What Kind of Business are we? We’re a Co-op!
A co-op is a business owned by its customers. Being a Co-op means that we’re owned by members of the local community and we’re pleased to be a part of our area’s diversity and lifestyle. You don’t have to be a member to shop at the Co-op; everyone is welcome!
Why Should I Shop at the Co-op? Because the Co-op:
♦ Is locally owned.
♦ Carries high quality foods with minimal processing and without artificial additives.
♦ Offers competitively priced, natural and organically grown foods.
♦ Consistently researches and investigates products to ensure high quality.
♦ Allows you to buy just what you need or larger amounts for bigger savings.
♦ Offers special orders if we don’t carry what you’re looking for. Bulk quantities often receive greater discounts off regular prices.
♦ Fosters sound ecological practices and promotes active recycling.
♦ Is a consumer-owned business, not a large multi-national corporation. Co-op shoppers know that their food dollars STAY in our community.
♦ Accepts cash, checks, Visa/Master Card, SNAP/ EBT, and WIC.
Passionate about the Environment. Ypsilanti Food Co-op shares your concerns about the environment in all aspects of our business, from how we use energy to how we shop. We care about reducing waste in our choice of products and packaging. How are you making a difference when you shop the Co-op? See our section on
Sustainability.
Green before “Green” was more than just a color
Since 1975, YFC has sold and promoted foods produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Our commitment to sustainable agriculture features foods free of chemical residues, leaving our air, earth and groundwater free of agricultural contaminants. We encourage and support organic growers, while educating our shoppers and the general public about the health and ecological benefits of buying sustainably- and locally-produced food. We share your concerns about genetically-engineered foods and the future of our food systems, and we emphasize the importance of food safety in all of the products we choose to sell.
Remember the first time you shopped at Ypsi Food Co-op: Colorful garden-fresh produce, the aroma of fresh-baked artisan bread, choices of gourmet cheeses and wines, all enticing you to take a taste journey into our cornucopia of products? All of these tasty offerings might be one reason you’ve remained a loyal Co-op shopper, but what else does it mean when you choose to spend your hard-earned wages at a member-owned cooperative grocery store?
You Support Local Farmers – Ypsilanti Food Co-op is proud to support our local growers and producers. Last year, we sold over $1.4 million
worth of local food from over 125 area businesses. We pride ourselves on paying a fair price for local food – we know it’s worth every penny! When you shop at Ypsilanti Food Co-op, you recognize the value of putting your money back into the local economy, and the value of paying a fair price for the products you purchase.
You Support Your Community – Ypsilanti Food Co-op is an active member of our community, supporting a wide range of organizations through our generous donations programs. When you shop the Co-op, you promote the continued financial support of many worthy community organizations.
You Support a Fair & Just Economy – Paying farmers fairly is an important part of the work we do at Ypsilanti Food Co-op to help support a just economy. Our selection of Fair Trade items, including coffee, chocolate, and bath & body care products, is unrivalled. Many of the fair trade businesses we support are cooperatives, just like us! These cooperative partnerships ensure that a part of your purchase of fairly-traded products supports economic and social development in indigenous communities. We also do our best to ensure that local farmers and producers receive a fair price for the products they sell to Ypsilanti Food Co-op.
You Own It! – Doesn’t it feel good to know that your voice and your vote count in a democratically-owned and operated business? That’s right, here at YFC, you have a say in who is elected to the
Board of Directors, the governing body of the Co-op. You can vote in member elections, attend Board of Directors meetings, and participate on many levels in the governance of your Co-op.
Vote with Your Dollar – When you purchase locally-grown, fairly traded, and organic products from YFC, you are voting with your dollar for a better world. Your dollars help encourage the growth of a society where the value of hard work is honored, where sustainable farming methods care for our land and resources, and where food is free from toxic pesticides and contaminates. Your purchase is a vote for good clean food without GMO’s, trans-fats, and unnecessary chemical additives. Each transaction you make at the Co-op helps solidify our valued community partnerships with local growers, suppliers, and producers.
