Co-op News

September/October 2016

Written By Mai Nguyen of CCCD, published in Rural Cooperatives magazine, a USDA publication

The California Grain Campaign, which launched Oct. 12, asks that all farmers market bakers use 20% locally grown whole grain flour in their products by 2020.

Two local nonprofits — the California Center for Cooperative Development and Empower Yolo — have partnered in developing a worker co-op to create jobs and cooperative ownership opportunities for underserved residents in Yolo County. Yolo Eco-Clean Cooperative, a green cleaning business providing residential and commercial cleaning services in Yolo County, will open its doors on Nov. 1.

Net income for the nation's agricultural cooperatives soared by 14 percent last year, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In its annual report on national cooperative business sales, USDA reported that the country's farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives posted record net income of $7 billion in 2015.

“This is an opportunity to work in a different way — being an owner, being part of the group I’m in,” said the 59-year-old Mexican native.

Imagine an economy without bosses. It’s not a utopian vision but a growing daily reality for many enterprises.

Central Co-op CEO Dan Arnett will leave at the end of the year to head up the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op in California, but still has a lot of work on his plate he’d like to see cleared off.

But what happens to a small business, and eventually the community it operates in, when the owner is ready to retire and there isn’t someone ready to take over? One option just might be selling that to the employees of the business via a worker cooperative.

Paula Schnese says she’s tired of big corporations dictating what we eat and is determined to provide better food choices — at affordable prices — for Vallejo and Benicia residents by helping create a food co-op here.

After a national search, Unitus’ Board of Directors is very pleased to welcome Steven Stapp as the organization’s new President & CEO.

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