Celebrating 50 Years of Cooperation in Skagit Valley
Skagit Valley Food Co-op is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide good food at a fair price.
Co-ops rock! Part of what makes us different is our foundational principles. Co-ops around the world follow these internationally recognized principles:
To Our Valued Owners, Shoppers, and Supporters—
The way time moves faster as it moves forward is something I’ll never get used to. That I started as the Co-op’s General Manager over four years ago is hard to believe. My first year here was… full of surprises, to put it lightly. In 2020, the pandemic flipped our world upside down, so in its wake, I think it’s fair to say that 2023 was the most “normal” year I’ve experienced at our Co-op. Challenges still abound in this new normal, but it felt good to start back at the beginning, tackling the business objectives I set out for myself on day one. Better late than never, they say.
A local business celebrating a 50th anniversary is not a normal occurrence either, but it was such a bright spot to be able to come together at the Golden Jubilee in honor of all the Co-op has endured this decade and all of those since 1973.
Fifty whole years! What an accomplishment! And what a way to celebrate our success as a cooperative business, a collective group of people working toward the same goal. The words may ring tired, but they’ll always ring true: we would not be here without you. So, thank you.
Speaking of you, we welcomed a record-setting 1,251 new owner-members in 2023! In a year meant to recognize our strength, it feels good knowing we’re growing even stronger. In our 50 years, the Co-op has welcomed and served well over 35,000 household owner-members. Our sales growth was also strong for the second year in a row! In fact, we set records for sales in one day, and in one week: $136,457 and $705,881 respectively.
We also had the privilege of kicking off this momentous year with a $100,000 donation to Viva Farms through our Growing Good Fund. The fund is intended to bolster local and sustainable farming while also increasing food access to Skagitonians for generations to come.
Another highlight was the successful opening of our newly expanded production kitchen, in what was formerly the Third Street Cafe restaurant space. The transition was a massive undertaking by our prepared foods teams, but the results are already showing themselves, and the expansion allows us to make even more food from scratch right here at the Co-op.
While sales were strong and major projects were completed, financially, the Co-op incurred a net loss on the year. It’s worth noting that the loss was equal to the $370,000 bonus we paid out to staff, in addition to our $100,000 donation to Viva Farms—impactful expenditures marked as “expenses” on the income statement, regardless of steady business operations. Either way, breakeven performance is not what I strive for, and the Co-op will continue to work towards annual net profit.
Of course, turning a profit in 2024 is more challenging than it was five years ago. The cost of “doing business” has skyrocketed; everyday operating expenses like office paper, deli packaging, electricity, and freight are higher than ever before, not to mention the cost of goods.
The Co-op also remains committed to providing a livable wage for one hundred percent of staff, along with access to extensive and affordable health insurance. Beyond the $370,000 bonus, we also gave an average raise of 4.5% to our employees. Profitability is critical, but our triple bottom line economics require investment in people and planet, too. We are doing that. Long live farming, and long live our Co-op community.
So, at the end of the day, rather, the close of another year, the Co-op is financially healthy, as are our mission and values. Our Co-op community is awesome— a dynamic and powerful group of owners, community, and hard-working humans, and we are well-poised to continue providing good, healthy food for decades to come, and that, is the legacy your Co-op will leave.
Thank you for 50 glorious years.
In Cooperation,
Tony White General Manager
The Co-op has won a lot of awards over the years: Best Gift Shop, Best Chili, Business of the Year, and more. So, it seems fitting that in our 50th year of cooperation, the Co-op was once again voted Skagit’s Best Grocery Store, Best Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten-Free Food, and Best Eco-Friendly/Green Organization in the Skagit Valley Herald’s annual Best Of competition.
We are grateful to all who voted, but most importantly, we owe our gratitude to our owners, our dedicated staff, and the many people who’ve influenced the Co-op along the way, for making Skagit Valley Food Co-op the very best since 1973.
While the Co-op has seen its fair share of change since 1973, many things have stayed the same. Our commitment to Co-op shoppers, our staff, and our local farmers and producers has never faltered. We’re proud to be the anchor of Downtown Mount Vernon and honored to have loyal members to support the Co-op and our mission to provide good food to the community.
13,500+ Active Member-Owners
1,250+ New Members in 2023
We love our people, and it sounds like the feeling is mutual! Here are a few of your favorite things:
High quality and diverse selection
My coworkers
Thoughtful and responsible products
How deeply (and maybe unknowingly) we all impact those around us
Upbeat and friendly
The Mercantile... it’s different every time!
Feels like home
Wonderful place for lunch
So many yummy vegan options
Comfy feeling
Kind and knowledgeable staff
Shopping joy!
Best produce in the Valley
We’re local, independent, and community-centered
Fun and “hip” atmosphere
Everybody knows your name
Bulk food section
The people
Great community involvement
Diverse people coming together for the common cause of good foods
Coffee bar is a treat
Gourmet, organic, local, quality, delicious
Fresh fruit selection
Reasonable prices
The smells Welcoming
The ambiance and smell are relaxing and inviting
Great blend of familiar products and new items
Our employees
An exquisite experience
Sharing anecdotes and information in wellness
Great food, good vibes
Coolest Co-op ever
Curried kasha knishes and savory scones
Best of everything local Community gathering place
Great deli, smoothie, coffee spot
SO many choices
Employees are seriously the most helpful I have experienced in any Co-op ever
Grabbing ice cream here is a MUST
Multi-grain bread is phenomenal
The black bottom cupcake
Foodie’s paradise
Fresh baked cookies and sandwiches
The real deal!
As the Co-op celebrates fifty years, we reflect on the years gone by, the Co-op’s growth and progress, and what fifty years of Skagit Valley Food Co-op means.
It probably means something a little different to everyone —to you— but to be sure, it means fifty years of good food, of sustenance.
Fifty years of Co-op translates to fifty years of a physical place, a place that smells of spices, fresh produce and coffee, a place that has been a gathering spot for friends and neighbors, a vector for education, and a source of community strength.
Fifty years of Co-op means the Skagit Valley has benefitted from fifty years of commitment to enduring beliefs: supporting access to healthy food grown in a way that is good for the earth; supporting farmers and suppliers who grow andmake things sustainably; being a pillar in the national co-op community with a member-owned, not-for-profit economic model.
And it also works out to fifty years of people: thousands of people certainly, who have made —who are making— the Co-op.
Golden Jubilee — a fancy way to say it’s our 50th Anniversary celebration! What better way to celebrate 50 years of cooperation than bringing together good people and good food for a really great time? In August, we did just that— threw a giant party for our owners in Downtown Mount Vernon. The Golden Jubilee took place on the Skagit Riverwalk, adorned with tables, chairs, tents, bright florals, and a massive stage. Music was played! Food was eaten! Fun was had! Prizes were won! Memories were shared, and memories were made. It wouldn’t have been possible without so many helping hands and partnerships with other local groups and businesses.
Our 50th year also created other golden opportunities! The Co-op was able to collaborate with local breweries to bring you beer and cider, made special for the Co-op— a little co-hoperation, if you will.
A collaboration with District Brewing, Farmstrong, North Sound, and Temperate Habits, and brewed just a hop-skip away, the Co-Hop was a nod to the magic of working together to offer our community something delicious, like the Co-op has done since 1973. …because we all get by with a little hop from our friends.
Next round: a local cider! This time, in collaboration with Farmstrong Brewing’s Ragged & Right Cider Project. Picked and pressed in the Pacific Northwest, we were mighty excited for this celebration cider! Aged in a cognac barrel, a harvest blend that was crisp, complex, and a masterful mix of sweet and tart on the tongue.
À La Mode!
Of course, the Co-op couldn’t resist the opportunity to make a limited-edition cake and ice cream for the occasion. Because what’s a birthday without cake topped with chocolate and itty-pretty sprinkles? Happy Birthday Cake and Ice Cream were served at the Golden Jubilee and in the Co-op, as our gift to you! YUM!
70%
Washington farmers expected to retire in the next 20 years
1,400+
Beginning farmers educated by Viva
350+
Spanish speaking farmers educated by Viva
79%
Viva farmers that were profitable in 2021
~100,000
Pounds of local organic produce donated by Viva since 2020
Celebrating 50 Years of Community Giving: Co-op Donates $100,000 to Viva Farms
A monumental moment worth celebrating: to kick off the Co-op’s 50th Anniversary year, we announced our $100,000 donation to Viva Farms to support local, organic agriculture and the future of farming in Skagit Valley!
The Co-op has been supporting local producers and giving back to community since 1973, and we could not imagine a more powerful way to continue our commitment as we head into the next 50 years than this partnership with Viva Farms and our Growing Good Fund. The Board established the Growing Good Fund to cement the Co-op’s legacy in the Valley, with a strong focus on the cooperative principle “Concern for Community.” More local farmland means more food for our community, and that is a legacy worth investing in.
$100,000 is the largest single donation Viva has ever received!
Founded in 2009, Viva Farms is a non-profit Skagit Valley organic farm and beginning farmer support organization with a mission to preserve sustainable farming and create a resilient and just local food system.
Viva empowers beginning and historically-underserved farmers by providing bilingual (Spanish-English) training in organic farming, along with access to essential start-up resources, including equipment infrastructure, capital, and markets.
Viva Farms is creating a succession plan— training the next generation of farmers to care for our land, grow our food, and nourish our communities— a cutting-edge farming model located right here in Skagit Valley.
Part of the Co-op’s partnership with Viva Farms included opportunities for our beloved member-owners and shoppers, to dig deeper into farming in Skagit Valley. The Co-op hosted an introductory evening at the Lincoln Theatre in late January! Feeding Skagit Forever was a chance to learn more about Viva Farms and its incredible work, as well as getting to know some local farmers who’ve participated in Viva’s programming.
Viva hosted four interactive tours for Co-op members and staff in 2023 so people could walk the farm, learn more about Viva’s transformational farm incubator programs, and how Viva works with its practicum students to give them the tools and skills, both on the farm and in the office, to succeed on their own piece of farmland.
Our hope is that this partnership is inspiring and uplifting, and that next time you shop at the Co-op and add Viva Farms produce to your cart, you can take heart, knowing you helped grow it.
Pounds donated to local hunger relief $472k
Co-op EBT Sales
7,021
Total Co-op donations to local hunger relief
$2,318
Patronage dividend amount donated to the Food Distribution Center by Co-op owners ~ $15k
$1385
Golden Jubilee donations to Community Action
The Co-op has a better ability to source and bulk order culturally relevant foods than local hunger relief organizations, and is working to supply these more inclusive and familiar foods to better serve the community at large.
In 2023, Board Member Kristen Ekstran and Operations Manager Michael Marques participated in a Food Security Workgroup convened by Skagit County’s Population Health Trust. The two represented the Co-op as the area’s food retailer, to help explore ongoing food insecurity in Skagit. After several sessions, the Trust created a Food Security Plan, to be implemented by the newly established Food Policy Council (FPC).
The Co-op’s participation further cemented relationships with local organizations and opened the door for more opportunities to educate the public and engage in discussion around food surplus and food waste. We’re now working even closer with Community Action’s Skagit Food Distribution Center and other local food banks to donate the Co-op’s food surpluses— another way we’re addressing an issue important to our membership and supports our cooperative principles: concern for community through feeding the hungry and preventing good food from going bad.
The Co-op joined hundreds of organizations across the country, including the Washington State Department of Ecology, to participate in Food Waste Prevention Week.
We work to reduce food waste all year, but Food Waste Prevention Week is a concerted effort to educate and inspire real cultural change around food waste in order to help families save money, reduce the negative impact of food waste on the environment, and address hunger in our communities.
It saves
Wasting food is expensive! Households are responsible for the most wasted food. If we begin to reduce and prevent food waste, we can save the money that is wasted on spoiled food.
Reducing food waste is the #1 personal action we can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while safeguarding critical natural resources. Reducing food waste reduces your carbon footprint.
It reduces hunger in our communities.
So much wasted food could feed people facing hunger. 1 in 5 people lack consistent access to nutritious food, while up to 3 million tons of wasted food goes to landfills annually. Recovered food provides an additional source of nutritious food.
$218b
(That’s 218 billion!) Amount Americans lose on wasted food every year
$1,600
Amount an average U.S. household could save yearly by reducing food waste
40%
Food grown and produced that goes uneaten in the U.S.
45.78
Tons of food composted by the Co-op
Food Waste Prevention + 4% Friday
Skagit Gleaners | 4% Friday Community Shopping Day Group
Food waste permeates our communities on small and large scales every single day. Nearly 40 percent of food that is produced goes to waste. Of that, it’s estimated that more than 10 billion pounds of food are left in fields and never harvested. Considering food waste is one of the top contributors to climate change, there is a huge missed opportunity to address current environmental struggles while also addressing food insecurity. Skagit Gleaners rescues food that would otherwise be wasted, reducing issues such as food waste, food insecurity, and environmental harms. 550 families are involved in the Skagit Gleaners’ member cooperative, and in 2022, they rescued 1.5 million pounds of food from local grocery stores, restaurants, distributors, farms, gardens, and fruit trees.
74 Local Groups Supported
$210k Total Donations including...
$39k 4% Friday Total
$16k to the Skagit Food Distribution Center
$1k to Skagit PFLAG
Beyond providing a vital service as a community-owned grocery store, we’re also committed to giving back through a number of community giving programs. Together with your help, we donated thousands of dollars to local non-profit organizations whose missions align with ours by making Skagit a better place to live, eat, and be.
In 2022, after shutdowns and closures due to the pandemic, the Co-op was excited to start sprinkling in a few in-person events. In 2023, the Co-op made even greater strides engaging with both members and the community at large. Outside of the best party of the (half) century, the Co-op led or participated in nearly 20 events as we continue to expand our outreach efforts!
The 10th Annual Bike-to-Farm allowed cyclists to take a behind-the-scenes look at one of our favorite local farms, Ralph’s Greenhouse. Riders met the farmers and learned about organic farming while taking in the beauty of Skagit Valley on two wheels. They rounded out the tour with free Co-op ice cream.
A new outreach opportunity for the Co-op, the Mount Vernon Parks Supervised Playground Program is a free program offered in the summer for kids to play and learn new activities from special guests. The Co-op led two veggie stamping sessions, and the kids loved it!
“Thanks again for the time you spent with the supervised playground program this summer. We held our staff debrief today, and Leigha was resoundingly highlighted as the favorite visitor/activity by the staff. They loved the vegetable and fruit stamping and painting, and they really appreciated Leigha’s engagement and energy with the kids. We showed some Co-op pictures at our most recent city council committee meeting as well.”
Developed in 2014 by our friends at Community Food Co-op in Bellingham, along with the Bellingham Circus Guild, the Real Food Show is an entertaining elementary school assembly designed to educate and inspire children to make healthy food and lifestyle choices through a series of comedic acts, unicycling, juggling, and other goofy circus skills. Shows are performed at no cost to the school, offered free through Co-op sponsorships, and this time, with the help of your Tokens for Tomorrow. In December, we sponsored two assemblies in Skagit for first time since 2019 at Jefferson and Little Mountain Elementary Schools. Through education, community engagement and your support, we hope to continue inspiring young people to eat real food for a better future for food and for people.
$385
- Brooke Ahlegian, Recreation Coordinator, Mount Vernon Parks & Enrichment Services 17 Community Outreach Events 125 Performances in Western WA
35
After a decade of planning and partnership, the Co+op Forest program is complete. Together, our Co-op, NCG, and other food co-ops around the country offset more than 7,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide through the planting and protection of an estimated 1.8 million trees. Thanks to the fair trade and organic farmer cooperatives we funded in Peru, the Co+op Forest will continue to slow climate change through the regenerative agricultural practices like agroforestry and intercropping.
That’s right, we brought real dishes back in July! When the Deli first opened, the Co-op committed to using real dishes, glasses, and utensils, instead of single-use options typically offered elsewhere. It pained us to switch to single-use items during the pandemic, especially when people were allowed back inside to eat. So, it was our great pleasure to bring back the real stuff, so folks can sit down and stay awhile, without having to throw anything away. As always, feel free to bring your own cup for coffee, tea, and smoothies!
Another reason to feel great about wellness at the Co-op: we said goodbye to plastic wrap on our private label vitamins and supplements! We sold over 9,000 bottles of Co-op vitamins in 2022, and we are so happy to move forward without the extra waste.
$8,350 Donated
105k Paper Bags Saved
155 Trees Saved
Tokens for Tomorrow is our longstanding Bring-Your-Own-Bag program, implemented long before the Washington State plastic bag ban, that encourages shoppers to bring their own bags by rewarding their commitment to reducing waste with a token worth 8¢ to give back to local organizations.
Waste-conscious shoppers diverted over 105,000 bags from the landfill, and we donated $8,350 to groups throughout Skagit!
Like you, we love good food, and we believe good food is defined by more than just taste. Good food is good for our health, our planet, and our community. When you shop at the Co-op, you can trust that your food is real.
The Co-op has always placed an emphasis on organics, and you’ll find thousands of organic items throughout the store. As the first produce department in Skagit County to be Certified Organic, we’ve been leading the charge in organics since 1973 because we believe healthy food matters, and so does the way it’s grown. Choosing organic protects people, pollinators, and this beautiful place we call home.
What are the benefits of eating organic?
Lettuce count the ways! Organics look out for the health of humans, animals, and the environment by avoiding chemicals, like toxic pesticides. You can shop easy knowing your food is safe, and that the people producing it aren’t being exposed to harmful substances either. When you shop organic, you’re also supporting sustainable practices that conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, protecting the future of food and farming for generations to come.
Who knew little labels could make such a big difference? Another way to green your grocery trip is to look for Fairtrade America, Marine Stewardship Council, and labels on your groceries. Through their rigorous standards, these third-party certifications are driving critical environmental and social change in our food system.
Fair Trade standards ensure that those individuals that make our coffee, chocolate, clothing, jewelry, and more are treated well, paid fairly, and are able to develop a community that is not only strong but prosperous as well.
The MSC blue fish label can be found on seafood products from fresh, canned, and frozen seafood to omega-3 supplements, and even pet food. When you see this label, feel good knowing you are supporting continuous changes on the water to help protect the ocean for the future.
Did you know? We carry over 1,800 Non-GMO Verified products! By avoiding GMOs, you help support biodiversity in our farmlands and keep toxic chemicals off your plate. And remember, organic is always Non-GMO.
$450k Makery Monthly Sales
$2.6m Annual Sales of Co-op Made Foods
Just what are we making? EVERYTHING!
The Makery employs 46 people, and staff is loving the new digs and the good vibes of working together under one roof. Best of all, we’re busy chipping away at the ultimate goal: giving you what you’ve asked for—a wider variety of delicious, nutritious food, made right, and made right here at the Makery. Now, that’s what we call local!
The Co-op sold $2.6 million of our very own handcrafted items, including deli food, coffee, ice cream, meats, and baked goods— a significant contribution to our local economy, and the $11.3 million total in local sales for the year.
In case you missed it, C-SQUARE has a new name: the Makery! Let us explain. When the Co-op purchased the C-SQUARE building from the County to expand customer parking, a decision needed to be made about what to do with the building itself, and a vision was born: a marketplace overflowing with amazing food, an option for people to get even more of what they loved from the Co-op.
While the storefront portion is now closed to the public, the behind-the-scenes action is a beautiful display of how food should be made, and the idea remains the same: to provide you with even more food to enjoy. What was once the Third Street Cafe restaurant space has been transformed into a state-of-the-art food production facility, and as of August 1st, all Co-op food production has been taking place in the Makery.
So what do you call a space that’s home to so many culinary delights? Kitchen isn’t grand enough. Bakery leaves out other key functions, as do creamery and butchery. Which brings us to: Makery, an all-encompassing, whimsical, made-up word that’s a conversation starter.
In addition to handcrafting even more Co-op food at the Makery, the Co-op’s commitment to local remains steady. Our support of local farms, suppliers, and makers is one of the many things that makes the Co-op special, and it’s a big reason your decision to shop at the Co-op is so impactful. Every trip to the Co-op directs more of your hard-earned dollars to people and businesses right here in Skagit Valley and the Pacific Northwest.
Local Sales by Department
$11.3m
Local Sales
547
Local Producers
$325k
Purchases from Local Service Providers
Kimchi, a traditional Korean food, is simply salted and fermented vegetables that offer a zingy, gut-healthy punch of flavor, and we’re lucky to have a local maker of this probiotic-packed food. Sujin’s Kimchi has been specializing in homestyle kimchi since the summer of 2015.
Founder Sujin Jo grew up in Korea, where she learned to make kimchi with her mother and grandmother. After moving, Sujin made kimchi solely for her family, until she started noticing an increase of diet-related diseases in the people around her. For Sujin, kimchi is a healthy addition to daily diets. So, after a little encouragement from her son and a mission to “fight and curb diet related diseases in our area,” Sujin set out to share her kimchi and all its benefits with Skagit eaters. She debuted her products at the Anacortes Farmers Market. Now, you can find her kimchi at her Anacortes storefront, farmers markets, and right here at the Co-op!
If you’ve spent time in the Co-op, you know Co-op employees are just different. They work hard; they care about their jobs. They even know your name! That’s because Co-op employees are a group of friendly, energetic people. While we’re also a diverse bunch, we have one important thing in common: the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. To work in a place with like-minded people who share your values is unique and truly something special. Despite the increasing challenges as an employer, our employees remain an important stakeholder group in our organization. We are proud to pay a livable wage to 100% of employees and offer generous benefits and other special perks!
∙ Starting wage of $17+/hr with regular raises
∙ 25% staff discount on almost all purchases
∙ 50% lunch discount on select items (including our famous sandwiches!)
∙ Paid time off
∙ Affordable high-quality health insurance
∙ Basic life insurance with option for voluntary life insurance
∙ 401k matching retirement
∙ Opportunities for training and growth
The Co-op is only closed three days a year: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We have decided to remain closed on these days to allow our staff a day of rest, especially during the bustling holiday season. We also recognize that for some people, days off from work aren’t always a good thing. Rather than open the store on those days, we decided to gift our employees three extra days of paid time off each year, to use whenever they choose.
The Co-op continues to invest in our people through staff training, conferences, food shows, and other educational opportunities— including field trips to local farms!
Staff had the opportunity to visit Ralph’s Greenhouse in the spring as well as Viva Farms in the summer. Many managers and their team members were able to attend NCG conferences related to their departments in Minneapolis, Nevada, California, and Oregon.
In total, we provided over 1,800 staff development hours in 2023!
Did You Know? The women in Co-op leadership— director and managerial roles—have over 100 years of collective experience at the Co-op! That sort of longevity and continuity is rare—and a real asset, especially in the grocery industry.
The Co-op is proud to be a place that is owned by community (read: women-owned!), as well as a place that is inclusive of women at every level. Co-op women have long shaped a welcoming culture that allows women to lead and make decisions that impact every corner of the business, from food served and products offered to staff wages and internal policies.
As pictured above from left to right:
Amy Sible, Mercantile Manager: 14 yrs
Nancylee Bouscher, Wellness Manager: 19 yrs
Lisa Gilden, Prepared Foods Director: 27 yrs
Nicole Vander Meulen, Marketing & Outreach Director: 7 yrs
Magnolia Mullen, Garden Coordinator: 3 yrs
Rosa Avila, Cashier Operations Manager: 11 yrs
Carol Veach, Finance Director: 9 yrs
Brittany Davis, Front of House Deli Manager: 10 yrs
Estrella Pineda, Category Manager: 10 yrs
Not pictured:
Tricia Carter, Human Resources Director: 2 yrs
Elisa Edmunds, Meat & Seafood Manager: 1 yr
In late August, a group of 50 employees and their guests piled onto a charter bus to attend a Mariners Game, on Julio Rodriguez Funko Pop! night no less. Unsurprisingly, the M’s lost, but a great time was had by all.
The Co-op Building is a special place. It is also an old one, requiring constant maintenance and upkeep. In an effort to keep our facilities in good operating order, we hired Sanoosh Gamblewood as the Co-op’s Facilities Director. And as you may know, Sanoosh is no stranger to the Co-op!
Sanoosh grew up in and around the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, where his dad worked as general manager for 42 years. You know him as Todd Wood. From facing shelves as a little kid to helping out with all the early expansions and renovations later on as a carpenter and general contractor, the Co-op and its people have been a constant in Sanoosh’s life. So, when the opportunity arose to join the current Co-op team to continue to care for and support the Co-op as Facilities Director Sanoosh said it felt like a very natural fit: “I have really enjoyed getting to know and work alongside all of the great folks keeping our Co-op alive and well, and I am honored to be a part of the team.”
Sanoosh is the right person to help protect one of our greatest assets, and we’re happy to have him here!
For the last several years, the board has been discussing ways to create even more positive impact in our community. We can all agree that our community has many needs, and each of us has our own specific areas of interest. The Co-op mission and principles all point to encouraging local farmers and healthy food with an eye to sustainability, including agricultural practices in Skagit Valley and beyond.
So, in 2022, through a series of retreats we focused our attention on creating an environment and infrastructure to make a bigger long-term, persistent difference. After much discussion, and after looking at several options— both in approach and the size and nature of the commitment— participating Board members unanimously agreed that we would begin with a partnership with a $100,000 contribution to Viva Farms in January 2023 through our recently established Growing Good Fund.
The Skagit Valley Co-op Board of Trustees also welcomed new member Laura Bady in May. Laura is a Registered Dietician, Nutritionist in private practice who has helped people from diverse cultures live healthier lives and guided them towards their goals with sound nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. Adding her nutritional knowledge has a wonderful complement to the food, farming, and public health emphasis that exists on the board. You can find her articles in the Natural Enquirer.
The Co-op Board has had numerous discussions about how to continue education for both new and long-term Board members alike. In June, Board members Tom Theisen, Laura Bady, and Genaro Gomez, Board Administrator Leigha Staffenhagen, and General Manager Tony White attended the Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) Conference in Sacramento, California.
The group toured Pachamama Coffee Roastery, Soil Born Farms, as well as Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op’s 16,000-square-foot store. The conference keynote presentation was “How Co-ops Can Adapt and Compete,” and the remainder of the time included several compelling topics and presentations.
While each person had their own takeaways, the consensus was there is much to be said about embracing the spirit of Cooperative Principle #6: Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives. The amount of collaboration and knowledge sharing between hundreds of talented and dedicated cooperators was extremely powerful.
Tom Theisen Board President Brad Claypool Secretary Casey Schoenberger Member & Community Engagement Chair Laura Bady Member & Community Engagement Genaro Gomez Staff Board Member Kristen Ekstran Vice President Rob Smith Treasurer Britta Eschete Board Member 2020–23 Leigha Staffenhagen Board Administrator 2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Our cooperative principles ensure we operate differently than other businesses. We serve our stakeholders, not stockholders. The Co-op’s business model is committed to success, embracing a Triple Bottom Line approach—striving toward success in our Social, Environmental, and Financial responsibility.
While 2023 was another year full of challenges that impacted our profitability, we made important investments and significant strides socially and environmentally through staff compensation and training, community partnerships, efficient equipment upgrades, and a remarkable $100,000 donation to Viva Farms.
Through our strategic planning and financial forecasting, we are optimistic that we are making the right decisions to see good gains on the financial side, while still operating in a way that fulfills our Co-op mission.
Oh, what a night! Oh, what a year!
Our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who attended our Golden Jubilee in August and a very heartfelt thanks to the thousands of individuals who have supported the Co-op in one way or another over the last 50 years to make the evening possible in the first place. It was an honor to celebrate such a momentous occasion with friends, family, colleagues, and a sea of familiar cooperators.
Something to ponder as we head into the next 50 years, with a little perspective from former General Manager Todd Wood’s Golden Jubilee speech: What would be lost if the Co-op wasn’t there? Does it matter anymore? The answer is simple: the Co-op matters.
Our efforts, your efforts, are broad and deep. Growing and expanding organic, regenerative agriculture is so critical for our future. Fair Trade: where a few purchases can truly change a life. Truth in labeling protects what we have helped build from unethical manipulation. Supporting local business and ethical vendors is the right thing to do. What better way to focus on community than through nourishment, education, and donations? The International Cooperative Principles and our own Mission Statement are righteous in and of themselves.
There are so many things that set the Co-op apart and make it so uniquely special. The Co-op is not just a store, or a Third Place, it is a safe place— a place worth supporting that continues to raise the bar, for us, for our community, and for our future.
Thank you all for your support. Here’s to the next 50 years of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op.
Todd Wood, General Manager 1984–2020
