please stop acting like food just shows up
please stop pretending local farmers don’t matter
please stop choosing convenience over community
please stop asking why your town has fewer options
it's because of this
your grocery bill could be building something better
One store. Owned by the community.
With food that didn’t fly across the country to get here.
Wild idea, huh?
#WinchesterVA
Cooperation Makes the Difference Food co-ops don’t change their values based on which way the wind blows. We are rooted in our communities and participate in the international cooperative business movement, a business model rooted in cooperative principles and values. At a food co-op, members own the business and elect their board of directors from among their community every year, ensuring that as their co-op grows and changes it remains true to the values and goals of its community. NCG is owned by 165 community food co-ops with stores in 240+ communities and growing! Cooperative Principles Voluntary and open membership Democratic member control Member economic participation Autonomy and independence Education, training and information Cooperation among cooperatives Concern for community Diversity, equity and inclusion Cooperative Values Self-help Self-responsibility Democracy Equality Equity Solidarity 240+ co-op locations in 39 states $9 million collectively donated to local community organizations annually by NCG co-ops 1.3 million co-op owners as of 2024 Co-op owners account for 58% of sales
Leaders in Local and Organic Food Resiliency, interdependence and a thriving local economy — cultivating a strong local food system brings many benefits to a community. Food co-ops invest time, energy and money in building strong relationships with farmers and food producers, and it shows — we sell more local products than any other grocer. Food co-ops are also leaders in organic sales. We have a higher percentage of sales from organic products than our competition does. Soil-based organic agriculture is a regenerative farming system that builds soil health and increases its ability to capture and hold carbon (as CO2) from the atmosphere. Organic farming is good for bees and butterflies and builds biodiversity by working with the natural food chain to control pests — just how nature balances itself. Co-ops Lead in Local and Organic Local products as percentage of sales NCG Co-ops: 24% Conventional Grocers: 2% Organic products as percentage of sales NCG Co-ops: 37% Conventional Grocers: 3% Number of local producers NCG Co-ops: 175 Conventional Grocers: 41
Affordable Food in Every Neighborhood Food co-ops work together nationally to source the foods our communities want at the lowest prices possible. Look for our Co+op Deals and Co+op Basics programs which compete with national chains’ name brand and private label groceries. We also advocate at the federal level through NCG for increases in federal funding for SNAP, WIC and GusNIP, the federal grant for SNAP Produce Incentive programs. SNAP is the most effective anti-hunger program in the nation with over 41 million people using it to purchase groceries in 2024. Currently, 77 of NCG’s 165 member co-ops are located in parts of the country designated as having low access to fresh foods and a low median household income by U.S. Department of Agriculture. NCG donates to Food Co-op Initiative, a nonprofit that supports communities working to organize a food co-op in their neighborhood and other organizations supporting co-op development. 2,650+ Co+op Deals each week 25% average retail discount on Co+op Deals 1 out of 2 food co-ops offer SNAP double dollars for produce 93% food co-ops participate in SNAP
Responding to the Climate Crisis Food — how it is grown, produced, transported, used and thrown away — has a huge impact on our climate. Food co-ops work together to reduce our impact on the climate individually and collectively. NCG has been offsetting carbon emissions from staff travel and office utilities since 2012. In 2024 we welcomed a new offset partner, ReSeed, an innovative organization that funds Indigenous Brazilian farmers who use traditional agricultural methods that sequester carbon and reduce climate change. Food co-ops promote organic food as a climate change solution — soil-based organic farming methods are regenerative and can help to heal environmental depletion and slow climate change. 100% NCG food co-ops have up-to-date sustainability tracking software and support to set goals and reduce carbon footprint 8,293 metric tons CO2 offset since 2012 through conservation and agroforestry practices in partnership with Indigenous communities
Food co-ops are driving change. The 2024 NCG Food Co-op Impact Report details the efforts of 240+ food co-ops across the United States. These community-owned businesses provide affordable, locally sourced products and promote regenerative and sustainable food systems.
www.ncg.coop/sites/defaul...
7. Concern for Community: While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members. #CoopPrinciples
8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Cooperatives believe we are stronger when a proactive effort is put forth to engage everyone in governance, management, and representation. #CoopPrinciples
Cold pizza? We support it.
Supporting billion-dollar grocery chains? Less so.
#FoodJustice
If your grocery store has shareholders but not a compost bin… we’ve got questions.
#SustainableLiving
Hot take: food tastes better when it’s grown within 150 miles and picked by someone who wants to feed their neighbors 💚
#LocalFood
You want tomatoes, but kill the pollinators?
Babes. Be serious.
Local food needs local bugs 💚
#GrowLocal
Big thanks to everyone who came out for Kidz Fest! 🌟
We had a blast connecting with families and dreaming together about a co-op grocery store that serves our whole community.
The energy, creativity, and curiosity of the kids made our day!
#KidzFest2025 #WinchesterCoopMarket #FutureCoopOwners
We had such a meaningful time celebrating #Juneteenth at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley! 💚
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to connect, share, and learn more about Winchester Co-op Market.
We’re honored to be building a space rooted in community, equity, and access to healthy, local food.
We don’t just believe in food access.
We believe in food dignity.
Everyone deserves the right to real, nourishing, locally rooted food.
Locally sourced, community powered, co-op driven.
Because better food is everyone’s business.
What ingredient should be local but rarely is?
We’re looking at you, garlic 👀
You don’t need a perfectly curated life to live your values.
You just need to start where you are, with what’s on your plate.
Sustainability isn’t one big decision—it’s dozens of small ones:
🛒 What you buy
📍 Where it comes from
💚 Who it supports
We’re not just opening a grocery store.
We’re building something ours.
Rooted in Winchester. Owned by community. Powered by cooperation.
What’s the most controversial food take you’ll stand by forever?
We’re not saying raisins ruin cookies… but we are raising eyebrows 👀
You know what’s wild? The average meal travels 1,500 miles to get to your plate.
You know what’s better? A meal grown 15 minutes from your kitchen.
Composting isn’t just for garden people. It’s for community people.
Less waste, more nourishment. Sustainability starts at the soil 🌱♻️
PS if you like talking about the nuances of soil, check out @thegoldberrygrove and the discord he runs!
What’s the one pantry item you insist on buying local—even if it costs more?
We’ll go first: honey. 🍯
Support your neighbors. Taste the difference.
Just to clear things up:
We’re Winchester, Virginia.
Not the UK.
Not the demon-hunting brothers.
Just your friendly, local, community-owned grocery store in the making. 🛒💚
No silver bullets. Just fresh produce.
Let’s settle this Winchester-style:
Is there ever a wrong time of year for soup?
Be honest: are you Team "Corn Belongs in Everything" or Team "Corn Has Limits"? 🌽
We have a community to build and this could divide us.
Are pickles a snack, a side, or a personality trait? 🥒
(We’re asking for a friend.)
You’re at a potluck and someone brought raisin potato salad.
What do you do? Be honest. 🥔👀
Locally grown tomatoes or bust.
But for real—do you refrigerate them? Or are you a room temp purist? 🍅
You walk into the future WCM grocery store.
What’s the first thing you’re hoping to see on the shelf?
Manifest it. 💚
What’s one ingredient that instantly ruins a dish for you?
You’re building your dream locally-sourced meal.
What’s on the plate—and what are you washing it down with? 🍽️🫐
