How To Shop Your Co-op!

We are a neighborhood grocery store offering a wide variety of products. Shopping at YFC can be a little different than shopping at a "big-box” chain grocery store. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Food is available pre-packaged or in bulk. Pre-packaged food is generally marked with the individual price. We have dairy items in returnable bottles, fresh produce from local farms daily, frozen items, YFC-made ready-to-eat items from our Deli Kitchen and Bakery, and a big selection of Michigan-made products of every kind.

Bulk food may be purchased in just the amounts you need, or larger amounts for bigger savings. You can bring your own recycled containers to refill in our large Bulk Section. Often, there are clean recycled containers for your use in the cabinet below the bulk peanut butter. The Co-op also provides new containers (for a modest price); these containers are near the bulk oils & sweeteners and bags are available near the scale counter.

Many items can be bought in bulk, including maple syrup, eggs, molasses, oils, nut butters, chocolates, gorp, flours, nuts, granola, beans, rice, pasta, baking powder, herbs/medicinals, spices, salt, pepper, sugar, tea, coffee, and much more!

Bulk buying of flour, beans, pasta, etc: we ask that you weigh out your container (the Tare weight) and note the item number (PLU) of your bulk items or produce. A coordinator can calculate the price and enter it right into the register with our Point Of Sale software.

The scale located in the Bulk Section can be used to estimate the weight of your purchase and find the Tare weight of containers.

Through our Special Order Program (see following pages), you can order items we don’t carry, as well as bulk items in case quantities, and receive 20-30% discounts off regular prices.

Some items are not eligible for a member discount: items labeled with a yellow price tag, sale items, alcohol, and special orders.
You are welcome to bring in extra paper and plastic grocery bags for your fellow shoppers to use! Stash them at the checkout counter. Bring in your used, clean, lidded containers for others' reuse, too—place them in the cabinet below the bulk peanut butter.  

At the cash register:

1. Tell the coordinator your member-owner status and name/number
2. Tell the coordinator if you are entitled to a volunteer discount
3. Show the coordinator the PLU number of bulk items as you get to them and indicate the container weight
4. Give the coordinator any bottles or cans returned for a deposit

You may pay by cash, Bridge/SNAP Card (food items only), VISA, Mastercard or debit card; checks are only accepted from member-owners and only for purchase amounts up to the total in their Fair Share accounts.
After you’ve paid, bag your groceries in the donated paper or plastic bags near the register, or reusable bags you brought from home! 

You own it!  Please care for the store as you would your own home. In the spirit of cooperation, please feel free to lend a hand to staff—especially at busy times! If you spill, please clean it up, and please keep your children under loving control.

We provide a rest room for your convenience. Please use our facilities to wash your hands and keep our products safe. We have shopping carts and baskets for your convenience.

Member Orientation:
YFC offers monthly Orientations entitled, “Your YFC Grocery--Talk & Tour!”  Lasting less than an hour, we will give a short presentation on cooperatives & the Co-op's history, and then take you on a short tour of the store. And you’ll receive the volunteer  discount just for attending! See our website or Facebook page for the date of the next Orientation.

Special Ordering:
Items may be ordered in larger quantities to obtain a better price, reflecting as much as a 20-30% savings. [Policy under revision.]