Food co-ops can be an effective model for strengthening local food systems, advancing food justice, and supporting sustainable farming. For farmers and producers, a jointly owned distribution system allows them to share the profits while spreading out the costs and risks. But making business decisions as a team can present some major challenges.
Our panelists from Keystone Development Center, Black Urban Gardeners & Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-Op, and Clarion River Organics will share their experiences with different co-op models, and discuss what’s worked and what hasn’t. We’ll also talk about what can be done to strengthen cooperatives and help stakeholders work, make decisions, and thrive together.
Peggy Fogerty, Executive Director of Keystone Development Center (KDC)
Marc BrownGold, KDC, former General Manager of Swarthmore Cooperative
Raqueeb Ajamu-Osagboro, founder and Executive Director of Black Urban Gardeners & Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-Op (BUGs)
Nathan Holmes, Clarion River Organics
Contact us at events@pasafarming.org or call 814.349.9856