A cooperative (or co-op) is a business operated and democratically controlled by its membership of member-owners to meet their common needs and aspirations.
Co-ops are guided by the seven cooperative principles.

We don’t have a storefront yet. However, with the community’s support, we project to have a physical store in about two to three years.

Ownership is open to any adult residing in California.

The one-time share cost is $250 per household with no annual or renewal fees. You can even pay in monthly installments. Just purchase on our website and that’s it!

Discounts on CSA boxes and MPC merch

Free educational workshops and special community events

Access to our Community Rewards Program which offers discounts at local businesses all over the mountain

Being part of an values aligned community!

Nope! Whether you are a member or not, you can always expect exceptional customer service, quality products, and an enjoyable shopping experience. However, membership provides benefits for you and strengthens Mountain Provisions.

We do! Accessibility is part of our mission. The one-time cost of your ownership is $250. If you are not able to purchase your ownership share all at once, you are able to pay in monthly installments over 12 months.

Our preliminary timeline shows some of the steps needed to open the store in the next two to three years. Membership is everything. Progress toward each step depends on the number of member-owners.

At the moment, we don’t have a location picked out. But if you have any suggestions or ideas, we’d love to hear them.

There are many benefits to cooperative grocery stores including:

• Improved access to wholesome, clean food and natural products

• Keeping food dollars local

• Providing a store that offers food and products tailored to local needs and preferences

• Supports local farms, producers, and small businesses

• Strengthens our community and local control of our food system

Member-owner equity investments fulfill the capital needs of the business including all start up business expenses.

Each share of owner’s equity represents an ownership stake in our cooperative business. Equity is the total value of the ownership shares of Mountain Provisions Cooperative.

This equity represents an investment in the financial stability and development of the cooperative. 

An individual or household needs to only purchase one (1) share ($250) to be considered a member-owner.

No. No member may purchase or hold more than one (1) “Class A” Ownership Share. However, once a member-owner, you may purchase “Class B” Investment Shares.

No, your share will retain its value and benefits for life. If you’d like to support the co-op’s continued growth and financial stability, Investment Shares are also available for you to purchase.

Mountain Provisions is community-owned. There are no outside investors or behind-the-scenes owners, it is literally a store owned and developed by the community.

Once there are enough member-owners, Mountain Provisions will apply for grants and secure traditional loans to fund the remaining costs to open the brick and mortar store. Currently, decisions are made based on member-owner input given to our elected Board of Directors. 

Our co-op is owned and governed by us, the member-owners. For instance, we decide what products are in our store, how we’ll educate the community, and how we will use our profits. Prices are kept as low as possible since there aren’t any investors or middlemen taking a cut.

Co-ops also focus on education and supporting the local farmers and artisans. This creates a strong community feeling when you shop with us. Co-ops also offer more organic and natural products. Food co-ops are amazing and active community cornerstones.

Mountain Provisions is estimated to be a multi-million dollar development to bring this physical marketplace to fruition. Cooperative success is contingent on community support. The more member-owners the cooperative has, the more equity the co-op has, which allows for more leverage when applying for conventional bank loans.

There are several ways that food co-ops finance the opening of a community-owned market. These include:

Owner Equity “Class A” Shares – The money that member-owners pay for an ownership share

Preferred Shares “Class B” Shares – Optional share purchases beyond membership, like securities that pay a dividend based on the size of the investment versus the number of purchases made annually at the co-op.

These are optional investments made at each member-owner’s discretion

Bank Loans – Via traditional bank loans

Other funding – Through grants, community programs, or other sources

Although we are in the first phase of development, our vision is to gradually grow our ownership and equity sufficiently to reach our goal of opening a physical store

in two to three years. In our development, we consulted with professionals and were thoughtful about evaluation and planning prior to taking any owners so that we could move forward confidently.

Should something unforeseen happen and the cooperative decides that opening a store is no longer feasible, all of the remaining funds will be returned to the member-owners.

No, it is a for-profit business that operates as a cooperative corporation. A cooperative corporation makes a profit but returns a portion back to its member-owners as a patronage refund and reinvests in the development of the market.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to Mountain Provisions Cooperative, let us know! Our fiscal sponsor, Food Co-op Initiative can make it happen.

There’s tons of reasons. When you join Mountain Provisions, you can:

• Find delicious, wholesome food and natural goods without leaving the mountain

• Support local farms and local businesses

• Shop at a neighborhood grocery store with a great selection of fresh, natural, organic, and sustainably-grown products

• Shop in a store with friendly and knowledgeable staff

• Keep your food dollars local

If any of these reasons resonate with you, then you should become a Mountain Provisions member-owner!

We need you, your neighbors, your customers, and your friends to join Mountain Provisions. The sooner that we can demonstrate local commitment through community ownership, the sooner we can seek needed grants and loans to open our physical store!

When the store opens anyone can shop at the store, but only member-owners will be eligible to vote, receive member-only discounts, and earn dividends in our profitable years.