Berkshire Food Co-op was founded in 1981 to bring better-quality food at an affordable price to the Berkshires. Forty-one years later, the mainstay of the Great Barrington community continues to provide meaningful fellowship, along with a diverse selection of groceries, to its more than 5,000 owners.
While you don’t need to be an owner to shop at Berkshire Food Co-op, there are many advantages. What exactly does it mean to be an owner? In contrast to a grocery store owned by a corporation, the Co-op is owned by those who invest in the business through the purchase of a share. In return for their investment, owners receive an array of benefits like quarterly discounts on purchases, dividends proportional to yearly purchases, and access to the Co-op’s Buying Club which offers lower prices than retail and items not available in-store.
One equity share in the Co-op costs $150, which can be paid over a seven-year period—and you can enjoy all the perks of being an owner while you’re paying for it. A prepaid “owner tab” is another popular benefit: This account allows you to use prepaid owner cards at checkout as an alternative to credit or debit cards. It benefits the Co-op as well, as it cuts down on credit-card fees. In addition to the benefits to purchasing power, ownership also provides one vote for the board of directors, and the right to run for a board seat.
Owners also get 15 percent off one purchase during the quarterly Owner Celebration weeks. The next celebration is coming up from May 15 to May 21. The weeklong celebration includes raffles and demonstrations, culminating in a patio party on May 21. Any new owner who signs up during Owner Celebration week earns the chance to win a $100 gift card.
The Co-op’s role in creating a sense of community for its owners is especially important. It has recently begun converting the upper level of the store into a multipurpose community room that will include a workshop facility, demonstration kitchen, and an educational space. It’s already been used for a recent Community Clothing Swap, and the Co-op’s owners are excited for its future use.
While there are many perks to becoming an owner at Berkshire Food Co-op, the best part is the knowledge that you’re boosting the local economy by supporting an ever-strengthening network of farmers and producers across the region, too.
Berkshire Food Co-op
34 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, MA
(413) 528-9697