WHAT IS THE PASO FOOD CO-OP?
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More than a grocery store....

Owned by Many,
Open To All

Anyone can shop at the co-op, it looks like your favorite grocery store!  And member-owners get benefits, plus have a say in how the business runs.

Supporting Local Producers

Co-op grocery stores carry more fresh, locally made products than conventional stores and the money you spend at the co-op stays local too.

It's All About
The Food

Organic, Grass-fed, GMO Free, Vegan, Gluten Free, Biodynamic and Raw, co-ops have something TASTY and HEALTHY for every palate!
VISION, MISSION, VALUES

Our Vision

We are a member-owned, community marketplace that creates and embraces abundance, balance, and diversity through investment in the local food system.

Our Mission

The mission of the Paso Food Co-op is to build a thriving community by maximizing abundance, access, and affordability of fresh, healthy, and local food.  We foster dynamic opportunities and positive solutions through celebration, cooperation, education, and interaction.

Our Values

It is our intention to:
  • Create a reliable, trusted, and welcoming space for community interaction, celebration, information exchange, and a dynamic local food experience
  • Embrace opportunities for education, learning, and growth
  • Provide an accessible and affordable marketplace to a diverse population
  • Operate with fairness and integrity
  • Foster community resilience by connecting consumers & producers
  • Cultivate responsible stewardship of resources
  • Promote health and wellness
  • Build collaboration and cooperation among members, stakeholders, and the community
WHO WE ARE

Your Name Here

Member-Owner, Board Member,
Marketing, Business, Steering Committee Member,
​Supporter, Donor, Investor

Greg Ellis-Valencia

Member-Owner, Board Member, Marketing Committee

Jim Cole

Member-Owner, Board Member,
Business Committee

Teresa Turner

Member-Owner, Business and
​Marketing Committee

Barrie Ellis-Valencia

Member-Owner, Board Member, Marketing Committee, SLO Natural Foods Liaison

Sue Aiken

Member-Owner, Board Member​, Marketing Committee

Monty Norton & Erica Crawford

Co-Founders
MORE ABOUT FOOD CO-OPS
OUR BYLAWS, FORMS AND DISCLOSURE

Bylaws

Pledge Form

Member-Owner Form

Member-Owner
​Disclosure
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Paso Robles Food Cooperative?
The Paso Robles Food Cooperative is a recently begun effort to start a community supported food market in Paso Robles.  The market will use a ‘cooperative’ business model (hence the term ‘co-op’) that’s been around for over a century.  Because the project is still in the stages of organizing and planning, there’s lots of room for creativity in determining what it will finally look like.  What the co-op will look like depends on what the community wants and can support–currently it could be anything from a simple grocery store, to a full-blown food hub with gardens, a commercial kitchen, a cafe, and more!  Click here: (Support Us!) to see how you can get involved and support our efforts.

Who are the people behind the co-op?
The co-op is currently in the organizing and planning stages of development, hence we depend on the efforts and support of community volunteers to make all decisions, do business planning, grant writing, and develop plans:  About Us
Let us know if you want to join our forces: Volunteer

What is a member-owner?
By filling out the Membership application, paying your membership fee and remaining in good standing, you become an owner of the cooperative along with other members.  See below for more about The Benefits of Becoming a Member-Owner.  Click here to become a Member-Owner: Become a Member-Owner

What are the benefits of becoming a member-owner?
There are three main benefits to being a member-owner of the co-op: Business Ownership, Community Support, The Best Local Food

The co-op will empower you as a business owner:
+ you can choose your level of involvement in its operation, from simply shopping there to becoming a board member.
+ you will be one among a diverse population of owners, each having an equal stake in the business regardless of how much you spend at the store.
+ you will benefit from access to store amenities, in accordance with in-store policies and procedures (i.e. time in the commercial kitchen, seats at cooking demonstrations)
+ you will benefit from a member dividend/profit share rebate, once the store is profitable.
The co-op will support farmers and the community by providing  a consistent, daily market in which to sell or purchase local produce and products.  We will feature information on local farmers and artisans.
The co-op will support the availability of low-cost, local, heathy food.  By purchasing in bulk, co-ops get the best rates on healthy foods.  In addition, members may be eligible for purchase discounts and/or end of year rebates.  The store will be convenient and reliable, and it will be stocked with everything you need to supply your household – from cleaning supplies and paper products to milk, eggs, and bread.

How much does a membership cost?
A full membership at the co-op is $300.  The entire cost is refundable.  Every member will make an equal financial investment and have an equal vote in the business.  Payment plans are available on request so that the $300 membership fee can be paid over a period of time instead of all at once.  Eventually, we hope to have Income-Based Assistance to provide access to fresh, healthy, local food for all.
How are memberships, pledges and donations spent?At this stage in our development, we are pursuing grants to help us achieve our goal of a brick and mortar store in Paso Robles. The more members that have invested their money into the co-op, the more likely we are to receive grant funding. We will use grant funds and membership funds to produce pamphlets and promotional materials about our co-op, to open a business bank account, to conduct a feasibility study that will help us to organize the business and position it for long-term success and viability.  Ultimately, co-op member-owners have a great deal of say in deciding how the co-op income is spent.

What is the Membership Pledge?
We are now accepting pledge memberships.  With a $50 downpayment, you pledge to pay the remaining $250 once we have received 200 pledges/members (installment plans available upon request).  Click here to take the pledge: Pledge to Become a Member-Owner
Photos used under Creative Commons from USDAgov, USDAgov