Membership
Owned and operated by its members, the Potsdam Food Co-op has been part of the North Country community since 1973. We provide natural, international, and specialty foods at the lowest possible cost. Members and the public alike are welcome to shop at the Co-op, which carries fresh organic produce, foods in bulk and packaged and canned goods that are healthful, appetizing and produced using ecologically responsible practices.
Started by a group of seven families who got together and bought food in bulk quantities, the Co-op today still features most of a household’s staple items. It has grown enormously over the years and now numbers more than 800 member households. Still, good food at low prices - food for people, not for profit - remains the main goal of the Co-op.
The Potsdam Food Co-op is a place where everyone is welcome to shop and anyone is welcome to join.
Co-op Advantages for All Members
- Members can find products unavailable elsewhere and purchase whole cases at a discount by placing special orders.
- Staff members are friendly and well-informed. If you need help or have a question, just ask.
- People on special diets (wheat or dairy-free, low sodium, etc.) can find the products and ingredients they need as well as books on allergies and special dieting.
- Bulk bins make buying such items as spices, grains, oils, rice and cereals easy and convenient: shoppers buy only what they need each time.
- As part of the local community, the Co-op is committed to its well-being and buys fresh from local suppliers whenever feasible. The emphasis on organic produce is unique to this area. The store also stocks local specialty meats, such as buffalo and lamb, as well as organic free-range chicken and turkey, in the freezer section.
- The store is a good place to meet friends and neighbors, to catch up on local news while picking groceries.
Benefits of Membership
Anyone can shop at the Co-op. However, there are benefits to membership. Members are entitled to:
- a 2% discount on all purchases
- the option of earning a 10% discount on your purchases by contributing labor to the operation (1 hour/month is necessary for each adult in the member household)
- monthly member sales are offered to members only
- a member benefits card offering discounts from more than 40 area businesses
- a vote for board of director nominees at the annual meeting
- participation in the Co-op community
How To Become A Member
The annual membership fee, renewable in September, is currently set at $25 per year for a household. The $25 fee breaks down as $15 in dues and a $10 share in the Co-op. The share is your investment in the Co-op, which makes you a co-owner. Over time, when your share amount equals $100, you will pay only your annual dues.
Come in and ask any staff member for a membership form. Just fill out a form and give it to the cashier with your fee.
After your household information is processed, you will have a permanent Member Discount Card, which is kept in the store by the register at all items. You must present your Member Discount Card each time you shop to receive your discount.