Co-ops Connect Communities

For 30 years, co-op owners, shoppers, suppliers and staff have committed to building long-term relationships and cultivating community connections.

The Viroqua Food Co-op is a great example of what happens when people work together to fulfill a common need. For 30 years, co-op owners, shoppers, suppliers and staff have committed to building long-term relationships and cultivating community connections. The result is a vibrant and sustainable food economy, protection of land, air and waterways, and strong support for non-profits. This is what cooperation is all about, and at the Viroqua Food Co-op, connecting community helps us thrive.

The co-op part of the equation is essential. The Cooperative Principles that guide our business ensure that we are owned by the people who shop the co-op and guided by an elected board of our peers. Our mission, profits, and policies benefit our community, proving that we are better when we all work together.

Support of local farmers and producers is a big part of our mission. When it comes to sourcing products, we are diversified, buying from many local growers instead of a select few to ensure that our shelves are supplied with locally grown, certified organic products throughout the growing season and beyond.

Connecting consumers to the farmers and producers we know creates a culture of mutual support. When you buy local organic food at the co-op, you keep your food dollars circulating close to home and strengthen the small family farms and food producers that build our local food economy.

The Give Where You Live (GWYL) register round-up program uplifts area non-profits, whose services provide vital resources and initiatives that make this area of the Driftless Region unique. Since the program began in 2017, the co-op, owners, and shoppers have raised and donated over $275,000 to local schools and non-profits, making our rural area a kinder, more sustainable place to live.

As we reflect on and celebrate 30 years of cooperation, we honor those who joined together to provide a reliable source of local and organic food in our small town. We are grateful to all who supply, shop, and support the co-op today. Together, we're laying the foundation for a future where meaningful connections build a community that benefits everyone.