Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Weavers Way Co-op is a cooperative food market with a mission to provide high-quality, fairly priced food and a broader understanding of local, sustainable foods’ importance to its members and community.  Established in 1972 in a store so small that six shoppers made it extremely crowded, Weavers Way now has 5 locations and 7,500 household members.  To help make its products affordable for all community members, the Co-op’s Food for All Program provides a 10 percent discount and a reduced membership fee to people receiving public benefits.  Moreover, all community members can receive a 5 percent discount if they work in the store at least six hours a year.

Founded in 1961, Mariposa is a cooperative grocery store in West Philadelphia with more than 2,400 member-owners.  Over 150 of its members participate in the store’s Working Owner program, which offers a 10 percent discount to members who work in the store at least 3 hours once every 4 weeks.  Committed to food access, the co-op also provides a 10 percent discount to all low-income members. To expand co-op ownership to populations who stand to benefit most from access to nutritious foods, community engagement, and cooperative business ownership, the co-op has an Owner Fund that subsidizes $100 of its $200 equity requirement.

Weaver Street is a food co-op that combines employee and consumer membership, with each group electing representatives to the co-op's Board of Directors. Currently, Weaver Street has 70 worker-owners and 8,000 consumer-owners. The co-op has expanded greatly in recent years, adding a second storefront and a restaurant operation. It has also supported the development of a housing co-op and serves as the site of many broadcasts of the new local community radio co-op. Read more about Weaver Street Market...

The state of Texas has the nation's largest network of electric cooperatives, providing electric power to nearly three million customers. Read more about Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc....

While headquartered across the Sound in Kent, REI began in Seattle in 1938 with 23 mountain climber members. With its flagship store located in the Cascade neighborhood, REI is the largest consumer cooperative in the United States, with more than 3.5 million members and 100 stores nationwide. Selling outdoor recreation gear and sporting goods, REI sales exceeded $1.43 billion in 2008. REI has been ranked every year in FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For," since the list's inception in 1998. In 2009, it ranked 12th. Read more about Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)...

Founded in 1975, this member-owned retail co-op has over 2,000 members. In its mission statement it sets forth its commitment to equitable employment practices, support of local producers, consumer education, and sustainable agricultural practices. Read more about Open Harvest Natural Foods Cooperative Grocery...

Formed in 1965, today the Mid Kansas Cooperative Association is a full service farm cooperative with over 5,000 members that offers a complete line of supplies and services for both farm and urban customers located in the central part of Kansas. In 2003, it had grain storage capacity of 19 million bushels and the co-op sold 12.5 million gallons of fuel. Read more about Mid Kansas Cooperative Association...

Operating for over 20 years, Kid's Co-op is a non-profit parent cooperative, in which parents work as teaching assistants, maintain the buildings and grounds, and organize fund-raisers. The co-op aims to enrich the lives of Las Vegas children and strengthen their families through developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten programs, through parent education and through community service. Read more about Kid's Co-op...