As we enter 2026, I want to begin with a simple thank you. Over the past year—and especially in recent weeks—our community has stepped up by shopping more often, spreading the word, volunteering, and contributing financially. That support matters, and it’s helping keep this community-owned grocery moving forward.
The Food Shed exists to serve a clear purpose: supporting local farmers and producers in our region, strengthening the local economy, and offering food our community can trust. In less than two years, the co-op has returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to the regional economy, partnered with more than 100 local vendors, created local jobs, and grown to nearly 2,700 owner-members.
At the same time, we’re navigating real financial pressure. Like many young co-ops, we face cash flow challenges driven by inflation, higher operating costs, and the need for more consistent weekly shopping. You may have seen the Northwest Herald’s January 3 front-page article highlighting these challenges. While that attention gave us pause, it has also introduced the Food Shed to many new shoppers visiting the store for the first time. Our recent donation match raised nearly $80,000 and provided meaningful help, but continued community support remains essential as we move into the year ahead.
This stage is not unusual for startup co-ops. Many successful stores rely on added capital and steady sales growth in their early years before reaching long-term stability. We believe the Food Shed will get there—but 2026 is a pivotal year.
To strengthen our financial foundation, we will soon relaunch our Community Investment Campaign (CIC). This campaign offers owners and supporters with the financial capacity a direct way to invest in the co-op’s future. We expect to launch within the next week or two, once final legal documents are in place.
Since opening on May 15, 2024, 342 households have become new owner-members. Many may not be aware of prior opportunities to invest through Preferred Shares and Owner Loans—tools used successfully in our original CIC to build this store. We believe both new and founding owners may welcome the chance to invest again.
If you already know you’re interested, please email [email protected] and we’ll be in touch as soon as the CIC launches. These are interest-bearing investments in a local, community owned, business—not donations—and they keep dollars working right here at home. Preferred Shares will be offered at $1,000 each, and Owner Loans start at $10,000. Along with donations, these investments help bridge our current cash gap as sales continue to grow toward sustainable levels.
Most important of all: shop here, shop consistently, and encourage others to do the same. Weekly grocery habits are what will ultimately make this co-op thrive.
I’m proud of what this community has built and confident that, with continued engagement, we can move the Food Shed from surviving to thriving.
In cooperation,
Scott T. Brix, Board President
This article was originally published in the Owner Beet newsletter as part of the Cultivating Cooperation series by Board President Scott Brix (January 2026).