Supporting Local Cooperatives
It’s an exciting time to watch cooperatives locally and around the state begin,
grow and thrive! Thanks in part to the Northwest Cooperative Development Center,
cooperative businesses are popping up like mushrooms, all over the place. The
Cooperative principles that all co-ops operate from include, “Cooperation among
cooperatives” and “Concern for community” and we certainly see these values at play
as local businesses work to enhance our local economy and provide sustaining work to
more people.
There has been lots of growth in housing cooperatives, worker owner models, as
well as retail ventures. From Twisted Strait Fibers in Port Townsend, to Tokeland
Hemp Cooperative, Chesed Farms in Walla Walla to Sound Audio here in Olympia,
there are lots of reasons to be hopeful for continued growth in our area. Look out
for information about 2023's Cooperative Academy, happening this spring in Lewis
County.
And new cooperative ventures need our support! We are highlighting two in this
issue, Capital Homecare Cooperative and Blue Heron Bakery Co-op. We hope you’ll
learn more about these local businesses and find ways to support them, at the
Olympia Food Co-op or beyond!