October is Co-op Month!

This October, Urban Greens is joining over 65,000 co-operatives and credit unions across the United States in celebrating Co-op Month, observed nationally since 1964. The theme for this year, “Co-operatives Build a Better World,” was chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) to echo the United Nations declaration of 2025 as the second International Year of Co-operatives and raise awareness of co-ops as a trusted, proven way to do business and build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

For example,

a recent survey by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) found that there are 60 food co-ops in New England and New York State, locally owned by about 290,000 members, generating estimated annual revenue of $625 million, and employing more than 3,300 people. These co-ops are engines of our regional economy, reporting an average of 30% of sales being local products. And food co-ops are not alone: from farmer co-ops to worker co-ops, credit unions to mutual insurance, and housing co-ops to energy co-ops, co-operative businesses thrive across the U.S. economy, where one in three people are co-op members.

Locally,

you can find a coalition of workers co-ops called RIWCA. Meet some of the members on Thursday, Oct 16 at Fuerza Laboral’s 19th anniversary PARTY in Central Falls 5-9pm. We plan on being there. Come say hi! It’ll be fun!

“Co-operatives make a big difference in our local communities,” said Erbin Crowell, Executive Director of the NFCA and a member of the Board of Directors of NCBA. “But many people are surprised by how business model is recognized around the world.”

“The International Year of Co-operatives 2025 is a time for both celebration and action,”

said Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations (UN-DESA).
“Co-operatives embody a model of enterprise and community where inclusion, empowerment, and societal resilience are just as valued as revenue and gain.”

Stop in at your local food co-op this October

to learn more about what makes co-operatives different. And while you’re there, look for shelf signs that identify co-op made products. You may be surprised by what you can find, including dairy products from Cabot Creamery Co-op and Organic Valley, fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate from Equal Exchange, and naturally fermented vegetables from Real Pickles Co-op — and many more!

When you shop co-op, you are working together with your neighbors to build a stronger local community and a better world for everyone.

For more information on Co-op Month and resources on co-operatives, please visit https://nfca.coop.