The start of a new year is a good time to take a look at where we are going. Your Board of Directors does that regularly as part of our policy reviews with our General Manager. However, we often consider our accomplishments and future plans in more detail. One of those occasions is when we look at the Ends Monitoring Report in October. Here are some highlights from the 2022 report on those plans:

• Curbside pick-up and online ordering will likely continue for the foreseeable future.
• Data gathered through a collaborative effort with the Cheshire County Conservation District about the needs of our grower/producer community will guide our plans to be responsive and cooperative with local producers.
• Through a partnership with the Monadnock Conservancy, we are seeking to expand the scope of the farm fund to include the protection of farmland.
• Look for more education events using our expanded store space.
• While you may not see this happening, in the coming months we will be investing in energy improvements at our food production facility including refrigeration, lighting, roofing insulation, and eventually rooftop solar panels.
• We are committed to the continued growth of sales of local products, organic products, and using local service providers to contribute to a healthy local economy.

The coming year will bring its own surprises, new challenges, and changes. Watch this space for ways in which our Member-Owners can share in our strategic thinking about the future of our cooperative. As always we welcome your questions and thoughts at [email protected].