Who we are

The Port Townsend Food Co-op is a full-service organic foods market providing affordable organic foods to everyone-every day! We are a member-owned consumer cooperative serving our community since 1972.

Working hard for our co-owners, employees and our local economy.

• We have more than 7,000 active co-owners

• We employ an average of 100 co-owners of our community

• We contribute every day to our local economy

The Food Co-op’s Mission:

Working together to nourish our community.

In the spirit of that endeavor, we affirm these values:

Inclusion. We work to welcome and include our whole community.

Respect. We respect our community as individuals and treat each other with civility and grace.

Participation. We participate whole-heartedly in our community, our local food system, and the governance of our co-op.

Integrity. We commit to integrity in our work, governance, and community relationships.

Love. We love what we do, and we share that passion with our community.

Stewardship. We steward our resources to sustain and regenerate our community.

Resiliency. We build resiliency in our community, economy, and food system so that future generations can thrive.

Our Ends

The Food Co-op Ends policy is a governing document, formulated by the board of directors with input from member-owners, staff, and the general manager. The Ends articulate important goals as we work towards achieving our mission. The general manager is responsible for interpreting and implementing our Ends, and for regularly reporting to the board on progress. The board reviews our Ends policy annually, supports the general manager in developing a strategic business plan, and reviews the general manager’s reports.

The general manager strives to provide these benefits to our member-owners and community while operating a strong grocery store:

• Strengthen and advocate for our local food system, with a vibrant culture of appreciation and support for local farms and producers.

• Treat people well, increasing equity and access by providing a safe, welcoming, and educational environment.

• Treat the planet well, by modeling environmental stewardship and regularly sharing our accomplishments and challenges with member-owners.

International Cooperative Principles

(International Cooperative Alliance 1995 version)

In bringing their social vision to life, the Rochdale Pioneers developed specific guidelines for the operation of their co-op. Today we call these guidelines the cooperative principles or Rochdale Principles. Though updated and modified, the principles bear the same social vision of these co-op pioneers. This vision has been shared by the thousands of cooperatives around the world that have adopted these principles as their own.

• Voluntary and open membership. Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.

• Democratic member control. Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.

• Member economic participation. Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative.

• Autonomy and independence. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.

• Education, training, and information. Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives.

• Cooperation among cooperatives. Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

• Concern for community. While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

See https://ncbaclusa.coop/resources/what-is-a-co-op/ to learn more about cooperatives.

National Co+op Grocers

National Co+op Grocers (NCG) is a business services cooperative for retail food co-ops located throughout the United States. We represent 146 food co-ops operating over 200 stores in 37 states with combined annual sales over $2.1 billion and over 1.3 million consumer-owners. NCG helps unify natural food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately offer more value to natural food co-op owners and shoppers everywhere. View our brochure.

NCG Mission & Ends Statements

Mission: NCG will provide the vision, leadership and systems to catapult a virtual chain of food co-ops to a position of prominence in the natural foods industry.

Ends (Global): NCG embodies the aspirations of its members through integration and programs that provide the capacity of a chain while supporting the autonomy of a local business. The benefits of NCG membership warrant the resources and participation required of its members.

Further, on behalf of NCG members, the cooperative accepts responsibility for these outcomes:

• A dynamic and transparent organization with clear and meaningful ways for members to participate.

• Members are successful in a competitive market and have access to:

  • competitive pricing

  • professional development and training

  • product selection & sourcing tailored to common needs

  • operational and merchandising best practices

• A powerful advocacy voice for food co-op issues.

• A development mechanism for new and expanding co-ops.

• Members adhere to agreed upon co-op operating standards