The Johnson City Food Co-Op Interest Group, Chaired by Jodi Jones, started its work in December, 2014, with the mission: “to engage preliminary actions toward a cooperative downtown food store that would provide quality local and bulk foods as well as convenience items for one-stop shopping with a cost savings over for-profit stores.”  The overarching vision for this store is one that builds community by contributing to a livable downtown, outreach around healthy lifestyle, and social justice aims. During 2015, the group partnered with Three Rivers Market, a very successful cooperative, the only on in Tennessee, with a membership of over 7,300 East Tennesseans.
In 2016, the Interest Group raised $8,000 with the JCDA and Accel Now as major supporters toward a market study of the feasibility for a food co-op in Johnson City.  Three Rivers Market matched those funds and the study was jointly funded in April.  The results showed great potential for a store in the downtown area.  Stay tuned as the Interest Group and Three Rivers Market explore next steps toward the start of this new enterprise!

What is the Johnson City Food Co-op Interest Group?

coop1The Johnson City Food Co-op Interest Group was founded by Sam Jones in December 2014 as an extension project of the committee she chaired, Livable Communities. Jodi Jones has served as Chair of the Interest Group since January 2015.

The working mission/vision for Johnson City Food Co-op Interest Group is to develop a cooperatively-owned, downtown food store that would provide quality local and bulk foods as well as convenience items for one-stop shopping.  We want it to build community by contributing to a livable downtown and supporting a healthy lifestyle for everyone.

Since a visit to Three Rivers Market in April 2015, the Interest Group has focused its efforts on a collaboration with that cooperative.  Three Rivers Market is a very successful cooperative, the only one in Tennessee, with a membership of over 7,300 East Tennesseans.  Working together, we can strengthen East Tennessee’s local, healthy food system.  We signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March 2016 to establish our working relationship.

What is a food co-op?
Cooperatives are member-owned, member-governed businesses that operate for the benefit of their members according to common principles agreed upon by the international cooperative community. In co-ops, members pool resources to bring about economic results that are unobtainable by one person alone. Most simply put, a cooperative is a business:

  • voluntarily owned by the people who use it, and
  • operated for the benefit of its members.

Co-ops can be organized for the benefit of consumers, producers and workers and operate in almost all areas. Most food co-ops are consumer cooperatives, which means that they are owned by the people who shop at the stores. Unlike their conventional counterparts, co-ops are rooted in principles like community, voluntary and open membership, economic participation and cooperation. Because of these principles and practices, food co-ops inherently serve and benefit the communities where they are located.