Our Co-op

Monadnock Food Co-op opened its doors in 2013. It is cooperatively owned and operated by people in the community. All are welcome to shop!

Making Healthy Food Accessible & Affordable at Monadnock Food Co-op

Our Mission

Monadnock Food Co-op exists to meet the community’s needs for:

An accessible, community-owned food market
A marketplace that welcomes, serves, and connects community
A healthy, sustainable food system
The support of local farmers and producers
Education to promote healthy living
A strong, sustainable and improving local economy

Cooperatives, Monadnock Food Co-op included, are guided by seven internationally recognized principles that help us stay connected and accessible to our owners and our community. These principles are:

Voluntary & Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation
Autonomy & Independence
Education, Training, & Information
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Concern for Community

Download our bylaws

Co-op FAQs

Please review our FAQs below

Do I have to be a Member-Owner to shop at the Monadnock Food Co-op?

No — Everyone is welcome to shop at the Monadnock Food Co-op.

How come you don’t offer senior discounts at Monadnock Food Co-op?

One goal that many co-ops share, including ours here in Keene, is to make local, healthy, and nutritious food available to everyone, regardless of their income level. As a result, many co-ops across the country are shifting from an age-based discount (senior discount) to an income-based discount. You may ask yourself, why not offer both an income level discount and senior discount at Monadnock Food Co-op? Unfortunately, we can’t afford to offer both. Grocery stores operate off of incredibly small profit margins — and during a good year, may only generate income equal to 1-3% of sales. Offering a 10% discount erases any income on those sales, so we must be very thoughtful about how much and how many discounts we offer. Our Co-op offers a Healthy Food for All program which provides a 10% discount to those in financial need. As always, we welcome your feedback about this program and ideas for how Monadnock Food Co-op can continue to meet our community’s need for local, healthy, and affordable food options.

How do I join the Monadnock Food Co-op?

Membership in the Monadnock Food Co-op is a one-time investment (not an annual fee!) of $200. When you become a member of the Monadnock Food Co-op, you also become an owner of the store. With one membership, your whole family (up to 3 household members) will receive Membership Cards and benefits. Join Now!

Our History

Early organizers of Monadnock Food Co-op recognized a significant community need; a place to shop seven days a week where community members could purchase healthy and locally produced foods. Prior to our Co-op’s existence, community members would need to visit multiple farms, farm stands, and farmers’ markets to get access to all of the products now available at our Co-op.

2006-2009: Volunteers formed a committee to bring the community’s vision for a cooperative forward.

2010 – 2012: The Monadnock Food Co-op was incorporated in April 2010. The Board contracted with National Cooperative Grocer Association (NCGA) Development Co-op to plan our co-op’s store design and layout, project fundraising, and guide management through the first 3 years of operations.

2013: The Monadnock Food Co-op opened on April 3, 2013.

2019 – 2020: On December 15, 2019, the co-op successfully concluded the acquisition of its current facility along with the neighboring land, which allowed for a significant expansion of 6,700 square feet. The expansion project reached completion in January of 2021, resulting in a newly expanded store spanning an area of 19,900 square feet.

2023: The Co-op celebrated its 10^th anniversary in April 2023 with its annual Earth Fest, a 3-day flash sale, local tastings, and more.