IOWA CITY, Iowa–National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) announced two new member co-ops: Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana, IL, and Harvest Moon Natural Foods Co-op in Long Lake, MN.
“Every year, food cooperatives across the nation grow stronger; playing essential roles in their communities by connecting farmers and other natural and organic food producers with consumers,” said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for NCGA. “We’re thrilled to have Harvest Moon and Common Ground join us.”
Established in 1974, Common Ground Food Co-op has developed into a leading co-op grocery in their region with more than 2,300 members. Common Ground promotes local and organic foods, fosters conscious consumerism, meets the needs of their member-owners, and creates positive change in their community. “We are excited to be NCGA’s newest member, and we’re looking forward to becoming active members, both learning from and contributing to the food co-op movement,” said Jacqueline Hannah, general manager at Common Ground Food Co-op.
Harvest Moon Natural Foods Co-op was established in 2006 in central Minnesota and plans to open their retail location in June 2010. Harvest Moon will be a full-service food co-op, offering its members a full range of fresh, quality and nutritious foods. “As a new store in the competitive Twin Cities market, I know how vital the services offered through NCGA are,” said Peter Doolan, general manager at Harvest Moon Natural Foods Co-op. “Membership will help Harvest Moon Natural Foods achieve our goals.”
NCGA, founded in 1999, is a business services cooperative for consumer-owned food co-ops located throughout the United States. NCGA is owned by 114 food co-ops operating more than 145 stores in 32 states with combined annual sales of nearly $1.2 billion. NCGA helps unify natural food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and offer more value to natural food co-op shoppers everywhere.