What Is a Co-op
and Why Did We Build One?
Back in 2009, a little 1-inch notice in the South Bend Tribune Classified section invited one and all to a meeting at the library to discuss how to increase the availability of local food for purchase. To the organizers' surprise, well over a hundred people showed up. Some were food producers, and some were consumers.
That was the beginning of Purple Porch Co-op.
But Why a Co-op?
At the heart of the co-op business model are like-minded individuals willing to pool their resources to make something happen. The people at that library meeting — and the hundreds more who have joined in the following years — had common economic, cultural, and social needs; needs they couldn't meet as individuals. The need for locally-produced food, for food safety, for food justice, for a low carbon footprint, for organic food, for sustainably produced food, for a stronger local economy, for an enterprise of like-minded individuals — the list goes on and on. Read that list again and you'll see that no one person can fill those needs. So, the group formed a cooperative to work together.
As first formed, Purple Porch Co-op was an online cooperative — members ordered from local food producers vetted for their sustainable and transparent farming practices. Farmers and producers delivered food to weekly Wednesday night pick-ups. Soon more farmers and producers were attracted to this particular customer base. More people began showing up to buy, and it became obvious that a brick-and-mortar local food store was a possibility.
To raise the money collectively, people bought in with a $200 member-owner share. Some contributed to a Kickstarter campaign. Some loaned the budding co-op money. Together, member-owners formed a board of directors, wrote by-laws, filed paperwork with the State, found a building, arranged financing, and cleaned and painted. Four years after the online co-op formed, the Purple Porch Co-op Grocery Store and Cafe Max opened its doors.
So What Exactly Is a Co-op?
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.
The Seven Cooperative Principles
All cooperatives — including Purple Porch — operate according to seven internationally adopted principles.
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Membership is open to anyone willing to use the cooperative's services and accept the responsibilities of membership without discrimination based on social, racial, political, religious, or gender characteristics.
2. Democratic Member Control
Members set policy and give broad direction to the cooperative. No member has a greater voice than any other. One member, one vote.
3. Member Economic Participation
Members contribute capital equitably and democratically control it. Capital serves the enterprise — and the enterprise serves the community — not the other way around.
4. Autonomy and Independence
Co-ops are self-governing. If we enter agreements with outside organizations or raise external capital, member control is always preserved.
5. Education, Training, and Information
We are committed to educating members, elected leaders, managers, staff, and the wider public about the nature and benefits of cooperation. Informed participation is at the core of what makes a cooperative work.
6. Cooperation Among Co-ops
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively when they work together — locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
7. Concern for Community
Cooperative members are saying, in effect: we can meet our needs and the needs of others better together. Purple Porch works for the sustainable development of the Michiana community.
Why Join as a Member-Owner?
The co-op continues to attract new member-owners — there are over 1,900 member-owner families at present. Why would someone join an existing co-op instead of just shopping there? For many of the same reasons the original group formed: they share the common economic, cultural, and social needs of the other member-owners. It turns out belonging is good for your health — as good as kale.
An unlimited number of like-minded individuals can join Purple Porch Co-op, and each one has a voice as strong as every other member-owner who came before. Nobody can own more than one share, and nobody has more than one vote. If you want to, you can run for a seat on the Board and help oversee the General Manager and set policy and direction for the future. You can apply for a job at the co-op, or volunteer for co-op events.
Regardless of the extent of your involvement, the one thing every member-owner really needs to do is shop at the co-op. After all, it is a cooperative business — this grocery store we all own together.