Community Foods is a new Seward Co-op labeling program featuring producers that best align with our cooperative values and mission to sustain a healthy community. Community Foods replaced P6 on Thursday, Sept. 27, at all Seward Co-op locations.

With Community Foods, we’re focusing on the real stories of our producers that support Seward Co-op’s Ends.

Community Foods purchases are important, everyday investments in a sustainable and equitable food system. Look for Community Foods logos around our stores to find and support our producers that are local, small, cooperative, sustainable and/or inclusive.

Launch Celebration
Join us at the Franklin and Friendship stores for the Community Foods Launch Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.. We’ll have producer samples, Community Foods-themed giveaways and more!

Community Foods Producers
To qualify for the Seward Co-op Community Foods label, producers must meet at least two of the criteria outlined below:

Local—products from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa
Small—products direct from producers
Cooperative—Businesses run by and for people, with democratic governance and profits shared proportionate to use
Inclusive—historically underrepresented producers
Sustainable—producers who are stewards of the land
and environment

Why is the program called Community Foods?
The name of the program is the culmination of a process that spanned many months and included a number of stakeholders and conversations. Ultimately, we chose Community Foods because it simply speaks to who we are—it’s in our name (Seward Community Co-op), in our Ends (sustain a healthy community) and in the international principles that guide the way co-ops operate (Concern for Community).

Thank You
Seward Co-op staff thanks everyone who took part in the Community Foods online survey earlier this summer. Your input helped shape the program and its messaging and informed shifts on some items, such as the tagline. The co-op is owned by its shoppers and exists to benefit them. Community Foods is another way we hope to serve you, our owners and community.

Community Foods debuted Sept. 27 in both co-op locations. The program will also be featured in Seward Co-op Creamery Café.

Learn more about the program on the Community Foods page.