The annual meeting of the Franklin Community Co-op, the parent of western Massachusetts food co-ops Green Field’s Market and McCusker’s Market, was a chance for co-op members to learn more about the workings of their co-op, and to meet some of the folks who supply its food. That’s where farms and New England Farmers Union come in.

03 Franklin Community Co-op Annual MeetingNew England Farmers Union tabled alongside food businesses, farms and organizations that see the value of membership in our policy work. Present were business member Bart’s Homemade; Our Family Farms, whose Bree-Z-Knoll Farm is a farm member; business member Real Pickles; affiliate member the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, which supports food co-ops throughout New England; and organizational member the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops. Franklin Community Co-op is also a business member.

Throughout the afternoon, many co-op members came by the Farmers Union table to learn more about what we do. It was exciting to be part of an event where the connections among those who grow the food, prepare the food, sell the food, and eat the food are so evident. Food co-ops are an important part of a healthy food system, and Farmers Union is proud to support their work.

This month, Farmers Union also tabled at the biennial conference Harvest New England, where we gave a workshop on farmer co-operatives, and the Maine Dairy Industry Association.

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