Member Letter, September 2026
Welcome to the new monthly letter just for the BFC community.
We are going to have a little fun as we work together to build a more resilient local food system! Thank you for being here, and for sharing in this mission.
melons at the Blackberry Food Co-op plums at the Blackberry Food Co-op pumpkins at the Blackberry Food Co-op
Hello Blackberry Family!
As I write this, it is the day after the Fall Equinox, and thus: officially fall. This knowledge always inspires a particular thrill.
Maybe, it is the return of school supplies, maybe it is the cooler weather, maybe it is the soup, and roasted garlic spread on crusty bread, and poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and bacon… just me?
One of the things we are striving to do here in the BFC newsletter (besides make you hungry) is give you a really, truly inside look at what is happening in the workings of the co-op. This is quite literally, YOUR grocery store. We hope you find as much joy in that ownership as we do!
As mentioned, we are still working to make the co-op profitable so that it can be a source of food security for generations to come. This mean balancing the costs of:
rent, inventory, utilities, wages, insurance, equipment, etc. with our continuing mission to keep food affordable.
Here are 4 of the most powerful ways you can contribute:
Shop a little more. Every dollar you spend at the co-op, gives us better buying power with our suppliers, which helps us negotiate lower prices — which means your money goes further.
Volunteer. An hour or two of your time makes a huge difference. Volunteers help us keep the store stocked, offset staffing costs, and expand our co-op community. Pop in and talk to us about this anytime!
Tell one person about the co-op. Bring a friend, share our newsletter, or tag us on social media. So many people in our little town still do not know about this great resource for local , organic foods, right at their back door.
Bring us your ideas. It is important for us to hear what is working, what could be better, and what you’d love to see.
Eggplant at the Blackberry Food Co-op melons at the Blackberry Food Co-op sunflowers at the Blackberry Food Co-op
Announcements & Opportunities
Volunteers needed for counting a bunch of stuff.
BFC Inventory
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
6:30pm until we drop
If you can help, please email us at blackberryfood.coop@riseup.net.
•••
HARVEST FEST!
October 10th, 2:00-6:00pm
Celebrating Year of the Woman Farmer with vendors, speakers, and musical guests.
Product Highlight
Savory. Sweet. Spicy. Tangy. Delicious.
With the return of school supplies and those beautiful misty mornings here in the PNW, comes the hit to our immune systems. Wildfire Elixirs Fire Tonic and Elderberry Syrup are potent blends born to boost immunity in our community!
Wildfire Elixirs at the Blackberry Food Co-op Wildfire Elixirs at the Blackberry Food Co-op Wildfire Elixirs at the Blackberry Food Co-op
People of the Co-op
Volunteer, Juney Wren
We love our Volunteers! This week, we want to introduce you to Juney Wren.
Juney picks up fresh bread for the co-op, meeting one of the biggest challenges we face: getting fresh goods to the store on a regular basis!
Q: Tell us about your role with the BFC?
I drive to the Breadstop in Eugene to pick up a few boxes of bread each Tuesday. This supplies the store with a weeks worth of fresh delicious bread. I have also picked up cookies from the Hideaway Bakery . Sometimes I help stock shelves.
Q: Why do you volunteer?
I volunteer because I believe that co-ops and local organic food is part of a healthy new system that I see growing day by day. I volunteer instead of protesting. I want to cast my vote with my energy by helping keep places like the Blackberry Co-op strong. Food is part of the underlying structure of our community . I see the importance of healthy food and the cooperation it takes to make it for maintaining healthy relationships with each other and the world.
Q: Is there anything that has surprised you about working with the co-op?
I am not surprised to discover the diversity of talent and delightful personalities of the people working for and supporting the co-op.
I feel a sense of family and connection with the friendly and helpful employees.
Q: What are you most excited about for the co-op moving forward?
I'm excited to see the blackberry co-op grow and thrive as more people become aware of the value of local and organic small farm's. I dream of the whole region participating, growing and volunteering .
Do you have a favorite product in the store you would like to share? What do you love about it?
My favorite product is the unusually rich and chunky cookies from Hideaway bakery. That's another reason I volunteer, to make sure those lovely cookies are available.
Q: If you could have a billboard over the Blackberry Food Co-op building, what would it say?
If I could create a billboard for Blackberry Co-op, it would say "Real people doing real food."
Q: When you are not working with the BFC, what are you doing?
When I'm not volunteering for the co-op I create art. I like to paint what I call visionary folk art. I have had several shows at The Axe & Fiddle and participate in Cottage Grove's art walk. I paint furniture and sell it online and have a large garden that I enjoy tending.
We are grateful for all you do, Juney!
More things to get excited about:
Twinberry Commons is the nonprofit supporting the Food Co-op as well as the Community space we all know as the Cottage Grove Public Market (aka; The Public). They organize the events which make The Public a vibrant hub of the community and many of these events are closely tied to strengthening our food systems and the Food Co-op.
While this humble letter strives to give you the inside scoop on the latest happenings at the Food Co-op, Twinberry Commons sends out newsletters about all things happening at the Public - including workshops, classes, music, art and all the weekly happenings here in the space. If you want to know what’s going on, please subscribe at twinberrycommons.com/ - just click the little subscribe button that pops in at the bottom on the screen.
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