Advocacy & Awareness

Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression

To be anti-racist isn’t just to “not be racist.” We recognize that racism exists in the form of micro-aggressions and systemic elements that go un-noticed by non-marginalized groups, and we have a responsibility to actively recognize and correct these behaviors in our own operation.

To be anti-racist means to commit to educating oneself about their own racism and oppose the systems in place that seek to divide us. As a Co-op we strive to provide a community gathering space where everyone can feel not just welcome, but safe, seen, and appreciated.

Moving forward, we will continue to act with an understanding that until everyone feels safe, welcome, and represented, no food community can claim completeness.

Sustainability

Our ability to provide you with good food is tied directly to the health of the land our food is grown on. We maintain a responsibility to that land, and to you, to operate in a way that minimizes harm and maximizes benefit. This includes prioritizing organic products from local and regional suppliers to ensure your food is clean and healthy.

Beyond our community, we work hard to ensure our globally sourced products are ethically and sustainably produced. If you have a concern about a product on our shelves, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

Accessibility

We cannot serve our community if our stores are not accessible to our neighbors. As your Co-op, we have a responsibility to you to ensure that our store never feels out of reach. Our current accessibility options include efforts to eliminate physical, social, and financial barriers for our community members.

Food Sovereignty

“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agricultural systems”

- Declaration of Nyéléni, the first global forum on food sovereignty

Co-ops aren’t just advocates for food sovereignty; they are a step in the process. We advocate for our community because we are owned by it. Our co-op exists because members of the Bozeman community had a desire to democratize their food systems to take control of the acquisition and distribution of their foods.

To strengthen the food sovereignty of our community, we prioritize local products and partner with local producers. More information on the local producers we partner with can be found on our Local Producers Webpage.

Education

One of our core cooperative principles is “education, training, and information.” Meaning, it is our responsibility as your Co-op to “provide education and training for (our) members, elected representatives, managers, and employees.”

To fulfill this commitment to you, and to encourage you to stay involved with the happenings of our Co-op, we are happy to put on the Gather & Grow speaker series, which occurs once a moth and offers our members insights from local health, sustainability, and food systems experts.

Information on past and future opportunities can be found on our blog and our e-newsletter.