May 2026 Newsletter
Dear Co-op Members,
What a wonderful time we had gathering with our community at our Annual Members Meeting on May 16th! It was a great opportunity to reflect on where we are, celebrate our progress, and recommit to our shared vision. Here are photos:
Where We Are
Our Current State:
- 380 co-op members
- $42,000 in cash reserves
Our Purpose:
- Consumers creating a resilient, local food system.
Our Tagline:
- More than groceries.
Our Five Core Values:
- Community
- Transparency
- Stewardship
- Inviting
- Sustainability
What We’re Building Now
Our Community Investment Box program is the foundation of our current growth. At $60 per week for fresh, local produce, we’re building a sustainable revenue model that:
- Supports NFC’s growth and operations
- Directly supports local farmers with a 30% margin on boxes
- Provides convenient year-round access to fresh food.
Where We’re Heading
Our ten-year vision (2036) is ambitious and inspiring. We’re building toward 2,500 co-op members, partnerships with at least 250 vendors and farms, 1-5 stores of various sizes with 2 distribution trucks per store, an educational component, fiscal regenerativity, 200 engaged members each month, and strong food access partnerships with local food justice organizations. Every step we take now—through the CIB, volunteers, and strategic partnerships—moves us closer to this vision.
There was a short presentation, you can view a PDF of the slide deck HERE.
Calling All Businesses: Join Us in Supporting Local Food
We’re building partnerships with businesses who share our vision of a resilient, local food system. If you own or operate a business that supports the Nashville Food Co-op’s mission, we’d love to feature you!
How it works:
- Send us your business logo
- We’ll feature it across our social media—Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
- You’ll be recognized as a business that supports the co-op and reach our engaged community
This is a great way to show your community commitment while getting visibility to our growing member base on social platforms. Reach out to the Nashville Food Co-op with your logo and company information!
We Need YOU: Volunteer Opportunities
As we grow, there are more ways than ever to get involved and shape our future.
Growth Committee:
We’re looking for passionate co-op members to join our Growth Committee! Help us plan our expansion strategy, identify opportunities for new programs and services, and support our journey toward a brick-and-mortar grocery store. If you have ideas, enthusiasm, or just want to be part of the conversation, we’d love to hear from you.
Logo Redesign Project:
We’re still actively seeking volunteers for our logo redesign initiative! Whether you have graphic design skills, creative ideas about our visual identity, or simply want to be part of this exciting process, reach out. This is your opportunity to help shape how the Nashville Food Co-op presents itself to the world.
Interested? Contact the Nashville Food Co-op to get involved with either the Growth Committee or the Logo Redesign Project!
Community Investment Box: Still Going Strong
Our Community Investment Box continues to thrive, delivering fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce to members every week. With pickup locations growing and more farms partnering with us, there’s never been a better time to join. If you haven’t tried a box yet, now is the perfect moment!
Please know that you don’t have to be an owner/member to subscribe. We just ask that you make a six week commitment to help with our planning.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Every dollar spent on our Community Investment Box, every hour volunteered, every business partnership, and every voice raised at our meetings brings us closer to our vision of a thriving, locally-rooted food system.
In community,
The Nashville Food Co-op Board