"The equity of a co-op comes from its membership and serves multiple benefits... Building our equity is an important part of our balance sheet and long term financial health."

Due to my work at CROPP Cooperative (aka Organic Valley), and my longtime work with and dedication to retail cooperatives for my sustenance and community, I am constantly thinking about how we can build and grow a “cooperative movement.” What does that even mean, how are co-ops manifesting themselves today, and what can we do to encourage more?

Many Thanks for Your Support!

As we near the end of the huge undertaking of our co-op expansion, many thanks are needed. Thanks to the owners and shoppers who have supported us during the major shifts, both within and outside our co-op. Thanks to the employees who have worked diligently in moving stock, again and again, to accommodate the contractors’ efforts – and kept smiling during challenging times. Thanks to the management for tirelessly dealing with the myriad of details and long hours to bring this project to completion. Thanks to the investors who allowed our co-op the ability to afford such a formidable investment in our local food system. And thanks for having faith that our shared future is bright here in our community.

After the last nail is hammered and the last bit of dust is swept away, we are hosting a Grand Reopening Celebration. The celebration begins at noon on Thursday, November 8th, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony outside the entrance. The fun and fantastic savings carry on through Saturday, November 10 – with exciting giveaways, lots of free samples, cooking demos, flash sales, live music, kids activities, and more! Please join us to celebrate this major step in our shared history.

I’m so thrilled to share some highlights from my first year on the Board with you.

Hello, fellow VFC Owners! As you can see, the expansion is in full swing. Isn’t it exciting to see the size and shape of our future Co-op? There is a lot more construction ahead and your patience is appreciated. Believe me, it will be worth it.

Over twenty years ago, I joined my first food co-op, the Olympia Food Co-op in Olympia Washington, because I believed passionately in the cooperative mission and supporting the local and organic food movements. Eleven years ago I was happy to have the opportunity to continue supporting the cooperative movement by becoming a member of the Viroqua Food Co+op when I moved to the area with my family. We knew if a small town could support such an incredible co-op it must be a special place. Indeed it is! And a little over one year ago, I decided to throw my hat into the ring, run for the Board of Directors, and be in a position of providing leadership, vision, and guidance for our Cooperative.

Harvest time is beginning! It is the best time of the year for many of us – a time to enjoy the bounty of the land (and some hard work) gives us. Check out this issue of the Pea Soup for some great fall foods featuring cool weather favorites such as apples, squash and fermented veggies.

The Board has been busy planning Viroqua Food Co+op's store expansion. The building plans are progressing and soon get submitted to the City of Viroqua for the appropriate permits. As I write this, the start of construction is a matter of weeks away. For those of you with questions concerning this process, please go to the expansion news tab on our website for updates and answers to frequently asked questions. We also have expansion information at the Owner Services desk near the front of our store.

It has been an honor to serve the members of the VFC. After a year on the Board of Directors, I have come to appreciate the everyday hard work of the staff and General Manager. We have come a long way from the little store I remember shopping in as a child with my parents, but we do have further yet to go.

The holidays are always a time of anticipation around the Co-op, but this year was especially exciting as the work on the new parking area was in full swing. Thank you to all of our customers for your patience and willingness to walk extra steps so that we all have plenty of parking during VFC’s future growth.

Hopefully you are staying cool and enjoying the abundance of summer we find in our gardens, farmers markets and shelves of the VFC. My first full year as a Board member has been a rewarding and learning experience. I am impressed with the level of focus and awareness of our Board and the leadership of our General Manager Jan Rasikas, as we chart our path forward. We need your participation to insure we stay true to our mission and address the needs of our membership and greater community. The Board members are elected to represent the membership and function as stewards of the Cooperative; we greatly value your input and I encourage you to reach out directly to us, or with the multiple opportunities for your voice to be heard.