How to establish a food cooperative?

1. Gather an initiative group

A cooperative begins with people – meet with those who share the need to collaborate and want to organize food purchases together. Ideally, the group should consist of at least a few committed individuals.

2. Define shared values and goals

Start by identifying what brings you together – e.g., the desire for access to local, healthy food, building social bonds, or supporting fair trade.

3. Choose an operating model

Cooperatives can function informally (a group of friends organizing joint food purchases) or formally – for example as an association or a cooperative enterprise. The choice depends on your needs, the scale of activities, and whether you want to access external funding.

4. Create operating rules

Decide how orders will be placed, how products will be picked up, how finances will be handled, and how responsibilities will be shared. Transparency and clear communication are essential.

5. Build relationships with suppliers

Szanujcie pracę rolników i producentów – rozmawiajcie z nimi o zasadach współpracy, cenach i terminach dostaw. Stawiajcie na relacje bezpośrednie i partnerskie.

6. Organize community activities

A cooperative is not only about shopping – it is also about community-building. Organize meetings, shared cooking, workshops, or social initiatives.

7. Foster member engagement

A well-functioning cooperative relies on the active involvement of its members. Rotating roles, staying open to newcomers, and preventing burnout are all important.

8. Grow in alignment with your values

The development of the cooperative should go hand in hand with care for relationships, product quality, fairness, and environmental stewardship.