Co-op staff assist volunteers with a litter cleanup project for Bear Creek Stewardship Day in April 2021. MFC participates in this volunteer-led effort twice each year.
Food co-ops are so much more than grocery stores
Co-ops are collectively owned by community members, and guided by the seven cooperative principles. The seventh cooperative principle is Concern for Community – which makes cooperatives naturally community-minded. Co-ops contribute to the sustainable development of their communities by sourcing and investing locally. Explore some of the ways we make a cooperative impact on the Rogue Valley communities.
Feeding Neighbors
& Preventing Food Waste
In addition to composting expired food, we attempt to prevent as much food waste as possible with regular donations that support those in need. Blemished or “ugly” produce, close-to-date grocery items, and miscellaneous discontinued products often go to use in the kitchen at the Medford Gospel Mission’s Main Ingredient Restaurant. Not your typical restaurant, the Main Ingredient provides wholesome meals seven days a week at no charge. The Co-op supports the access to warm, healthy meals with weekly donations of wholesome, nutritious food. In 2020, we donated approximately 26,181 pounds of food to the Medford Gospel Mission, including organic produce, dairy, eggs, and meat.
In 2021, our Outreach team connected with Judi’s Midnight Diner. Judi’s Midnight Diner is a volunteer-led effort that provides a safe space for people to gather and offers food and clean water for anyone in need. MFC supports their efforts with quarterly donations based on their current needs.
2020: By the Numbers
The General Manager tracks specific data from year to year in the Annual Report, which helps us measure our community impact over time. For more information about how MFC supported the community throughtout the tumultuous year of 2020, check out the full annual report.
Thank you to all our local food producers who continued to keep shelves full when supply chains broke down in early 2020. Our incredible shoppers purchased over $1.1 million worth of local food and beverages in 2020 – all grown or produced within 100 miles of Medford. That's an 80.7% increase over the previous year!
2020 Sales
Local sales are a significant piece of the pie – and you can help us make it even bigger! Support your favorite local farmers, ranchers, makers, brewers, vintners, and food artisans. Just look for the blue Eat-Buy-Love Local logo (pictured above) on products throughout the store to discover even more great local goods – all sourced from within 100 miles of the Co-op.
Our Positive Change program involves both staff and owners in a robust application process that helps us identify the various needs in the community that align with the Co-op’s vision and ends. Our Board of Directors selects one Positive Change recipient each year to receive an additional grant from the Cooperative Community Fund. This allows us to select worthy recipients without an additional application and screening process – saving staff and local nonprofits time and effort.
Click on the images below to see the impact of each program.
Positive Change Impact
Cooperative Community Fund Impact
Medford Food Co-op provides economic, environmental, and social benefits for the Rogue Valley.
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Positive Change
View the current and future Positive Change recipients and learn more about each organization’s work to support the Rogue Valley community.
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Cooperative Community Fund
Growing cooperatives across the country and giving back to local non-profits. One fund, two benefits.
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Donations & Sponsorships
In addition to the Positive Change program and the Cooperative Community Fund, we support the local community with additional donations and sponsorships.
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Double Up Food Bucks
This nutrition incentive program expands food access by matching EBT funds so cardholders can purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Local Food
The Co-op helps to sustain a thriving local, organic food economy by supporting local farms and food producers within 100 miles.
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Rogue Valley Farm Tour
We love our local farmers and ranchers! That’s why we organize the annual Farm Tour with Ashland Food Co-op and the Rogue Valley Food System Network.