Cooperation is a powerful tool to help communities meet local needs. When people have a common need and goal, they can start a co-op to achieve it.
co·op·er·a·tive
–adjective
1. working or acting together willingly for a common purpose or benefit.
2. demonstrating a willingness to cooperate: The librarian was cooperative in helping us find the book.
3. pertaining to economic cooperation: a cooperative business.
–noun
4. a jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit, typically organized by consumers or farmers.
5. an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. The Cooperative Principles (see tab) are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.
Why Join Homegrown Local Food Cooperative?
You Own It, and It Works for You!
An economic alternative for a sustainable future
From our beginning, Homegrown Co-op has relied on the vision, involvement, and support of members for its success. Membership is ownership. Involvement by our members ensures that the Co-op remains a strong, responsible and viable community organization. You don’t have to be a member to shop at the Co-op, but being a member does mean you will enjoy a variety of social, environmental, financial and personal wellness benefits.
You Receive!
Members only discount specials, special event access, patronage refunds and piece of mind knowing your food is safe, your community is strong and the future is looking better by the bite.
Your budget benefits!
The Co-op adds a 25-36% profit margin on top of the prices you sell your products for. This percentage is an operating margin collected to help the Co-op pay its numerous bills and operating expenses. In years we earn a profit, we have a legal mechanism to return excess profits back to our members without tax liabilities to the organization or individual receiving a rebate check apportioned to their annual household purchase record. This is called a Patronage Rebate, and fully vested Patron Members are eligible for this financial benefit. Its one way we can bring down food costs.
You Care!
About good food and how it is produced
As a Member of the Homegrown Cooperative, you are contributing an equitable financial investment into our collective future, building mission capacity by directing organized and debt-free resources into projects and values important to you and others committed to a sustainable life. Your money directly supports the Co-op's capital infrastructure. Membership funds are used for Capital Investments including equipment and tools needed to service your business or family.
You’re Empowered!
You help support the local & regional food-shed. You vote with your dollars for a strong local economy. You support Cooperative principles, social values and community ownership.
You Participate!
The Homegrown Local Food Cooperative is a special type of Non-Profit business, owned and governed by the members using its services. The Cooperative is managed and governed by a 9 person Board of Directors comprised of our Patron & Producer Members. Directors are elected by the member-owners to lead the decision making process of the business. Our Board and our Staff all lead in efforts to manage, promote and support the Coop daily. As a member-owner, you will be investing in your local community to develop a robust local food system that is aligned with a shared set of values.
Patron Membership
Our individual community owners making retail purchases are called Patron Members. As we collectively reject the notion and dangers of consumer culture, we recognize and respect our community members as a patron supporter of Florida agriculture. These people not only regularly support local farms by eating their seasonal food; they go an extra step to make a financial investment into the Cooperative business facilitating the distribution, value-addition, sales and marketing of their products. Patron Members are co-producers of a sustainable future! Patron Membership into Homegrown Co-op is a one-time investment of $200 and gives the participant a number of benefits.
Patron Members enjoy:
Governance Participation – Help guide your Co-op into the future by participating in the meetings. Member-owners elect the Co-op’s Board of Directors to oversee the long-term development of the Co-op, the general management of store operations, and the financial management of the overall business. Membership includes voting rights, one vote per share, for Board of Director Elections. You may also take a more active role in your Co-op and run for the Board of Directors in the September elections. All Co-op Members in good standing are eligible to nominate, and be nominated to become an elected Board of Director.
Patronage Dividends – Our way of distributing Co-op profits back into our member's pockets. Dividends are distributed based on the total dollars you spend through the Cooperative. The more you shop, the larger your refund.
Once the Co-op is clears a profit, we the members decide what to do with it at the Annual Meeting of the Members which takes place each year 90 days from the close of our fiscal year ending June 30th. Here, members will be given a financial report of the Cooperative business activities from the previous year including a profit statement. Members will make motions on how to use these funds, including options ranging from financial investment back into the Cooperative to increase or expand product and service offerings, to other outside investment opportunities, to philanthropic giving, to authorizing a return of profits back to members in the form of a Patronage Dividend. Because the Co-op is young and in an expansion phase, it is not estimated to return a profit until expansion is completed.
Working Member Discount Program – Volunteer in your community and be rewarded with a reduced bill for your groceries at the Co-op.
Members can participate in the Co-op through our community capacity building program or through our community outreach program and earn a great discount on a shopping trip at the Co-op for each 4 hour shift of participation. Please ask the Volunteer Coordinator for more details or just click here to GET INVOLVED!
Member Only Sales – Access additional monthly and daily sales items
Member Only Services – Access member-owner prices for specialty and bulk-ordering services. You can special order large quantities, hard-to-find items, and items we don't carry.
Member Only Programs – Access to special events including farm tours, educational programming and social functions.
Legal Defense – Affiliate Membership with Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. $10 of each membership also goes to support our Affiliate Membership with the "Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund" Your membership in Homegrown Co-op helps protect your Constitutionally protected rights to obtain wholesome, unadulterated foods directly from any source you choose.
Member Prices – On-shelf and market website prices reflect member prices. Non-members receive a 10% surcharge.
How do I become a Producer Member?
Qualified applicants for Producer Membership in the Cooperative shall be admitted as a Producer Member upon submitting to the Cooperative a signed and verified application(enclosed), and purchasing or subscribing to purchase a non-transferable, refundable, lifetime Producer Membership share.
Producers can choose a single investment of $1000
or a $200 annual payment plan, over 5 years, to become a fully vested Producer Member
Payment Plan Notice: A Subscribing Producer Member shall not be entitled to vote, hold office, or receive Patronage Dividends until such Member completes payment of the Producer Membership Fee in total. A subscribing Producer Member may receive the other Special Benefits while making payments towards their Producer Membership Fee total.
What does the Co-op do with my Membership Investment?
As a Producer Member of the Homegrown Cooperative, you are contributing an equitable financial investment into our collective future, building mission capacity by directing organized and debt-free resources into projects and values important to you and others committed to a sustainable life. Your money directly supports the Co-op's capital infrastructure. Membership funds are used for Capital Investments including equipment and tools needed to service your business and family.
A portion of dues are contributed toward administrative costs to process your application, help build your online profile and products entries, along with live launch promotions and in-store product displays.
Membership investment is turned around into assets critically needed to serve your farm/artisan business. If you grow veggies, we'll put your money to work with a cooler to properly store and display your product. If you bake cookies, we'll invest in a display case.
We also pool producer membership funds to make larger purchases like delivery trucks and walk-in coolers, which will be used to service your business with on-site pickups and expanded distribution option like wholesale accounts to restaurants and other markets.
We also pool resources to make sure we have enough liability insurance to protect the Co-op and your business from misfortune.
Contact Christine or Michael at info@homegrowncoop.org to set up your producer membership.
Welcome to Homegrown Co-op! Patron Members: Join Here
2 Ways to Join: Choose a single investment or a payment plan
One-time, refundabe investment share of $200
or Subscribe to join with 5 annual payments of $40
Please Note: Voting Rights & Patronage Rebate Benefits only effective when Membership Dues are paid in full. Subscribing Members are assess a $5 fee annually for administrative costs associated with account maintenance.
Download your application for Patron Membership here Fill out, scan and Email it back here or bring or mail it to the Farm Store during open hours.
ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP INFO
Membership Cards will arrive to applicant within 10 business days of application receipt. Please specify with application if you would like us to mail a copy or be notified for pick up at the Farm Store when ready.
Your share investment is fully refundable upon termination of member-ownership, as soon as replacement equity is available.
A membership is valid for you and your immediate family [spouse, partner, kids] living in the same household.
Sponsored Patron memberships may also be available for those with financial need. Apply here.
Producer Standards
Farm Standards
Kitchen Standards
Producer Agreement
Producer Membership Information
Qualified applicants for Producer Membership in the Cooperative shall be admitted as a Producer Member upon submitting to the Cooperative a signed and verified application, and purchasing or subscribing to purchase a non-transferable, refundable, lifetime Producer Membership share.
Producers can choose a single investment of $1000
or a $200 annual payment plan, over 5 years, to become a fully vested Producer Member
Payment Plan Notice: A Subscribing Producer Member shall not be entitled to vote, hold office, or receive Patronage Dividends until such Member completes payment of the Producer Membership Fee in total. A subscribing Producer Member may receive the other Special Benefits while making payments towards their Producer Membership Fee total.
APPLY NOW
Download your application for Producer Participation, or full Producer Membership here for farms, gardens, and ranches, and here for artisans and kitchens.
Fill out, scan and Email it back here, or bring or mail it to the Farm Store during open hours.