Co-ops around the world share a set of guiding principles, including “cooperation among cooperatives,” and “concern for community.” When you purchase delicious, healthy food at a locally-owned food co-op, you’re supporting a business that cares about people and contributes to a livable, sustainable community. And when you choose products from co-op farmers and companies, that impact grows and grows!
Keep an eye out this week for cooperatives featured in our store!

Spencer Mountain Mennonite Farms is one of our largest local producers at Three Rivers Market. This hard working group produces a variety of vegetables: potatoes, summer & winter squashes, peppers, eggplants, onions, tomatoes, herbs & more.
We even have a selection of their Kuntry Kitchen jams and jellies to spread on your favorite biscuits or toast.

Come in to check out our produce department and aisle 4 to support local growers and producers!

It’s that time of the year again and . . . WE WANT YOU!

No, we’re not the U.S. Army. We are your friendly neighborhood Board of Directors at Three Rivers Market. Chances are, if you’re reading the Board News, you’re not only interested in the inner workings of your cooperative, but perhaps, you have considered Board service, or at least wondered what it is.

Do you have ideas on how Three Rivers Market can be even stronger? It’s recruitment time, and we want to make sure you know we have an election coming up. If you’re a member and appreciate the positive impact the cooperative has on our community, don’t just read the news. We encourage engaged members to take the next step towards active involvement: attend a Board meeting and learn about our Ends. Even if Board service isn’t for … Read More »

Board News

On June 9th, 2016, Three Rivers Market’s Board of Directors and General Manager visited Weaver Street Market, a consumer and worker cooperative in Carrboro, North Carolina. The purpose of our trip was to learn more about “hybrid” or “solidarity” membership structures. Weaver Street was the first consumer grocery cooperative in the United States to create and successfully implement this hybrid governance structure since 1988. What this means is that Weaver Street, unlike most grocery co-ops, has two membership classes: consumers (shoppers) and workers.

We were curious: what does a hybrid structure imply in terms of long-term sustainability, in terms of board structure and organization, and in terms of general care and investment on the part of co-op owners?

To explore these questions, we timed our trip so that we could attend a Weaver Street Board meeting. Weaver Street’s Board of … Read More »

Annual Cooperative Board Leadership Training 2016

Directors from cooperatives in 5 states, NC, FL, TN, GA, and KY, met in Asheville, NC for Cooperative Board Training 101 led by Joel Kopischke and Leadership Training led by Michael Healy, both facilitators from the Cooperative Development Services Consulting Co-op. January’s event was cancelled due to snow, and the April 16th rescheduling cut the typical number of participants but not the enthusiasm. The intimate setting for both training groups replaced what would normally be a conference room full of Co-op Directors and staff.
After the initial excitement of joining the Three Rivers Market Board of Directors, one might wonder, “What exactly is my role? How do I best contribute?” CBL 101 is a day-long introduction to the history of cooperatives, cooperative principles and values, the legal duties of Directors, cooperative governance and … Read More »