At Seward Co-op we have always been passionate about sourcing high-quality products from makers who share our cooperative values. That’s one of the reasons we created the Community Foods labeling program in 2018. Purchases from local, small-scale, cooperative, inclusive, and sustainable businesses keep money in our community and help build a more sustainable and equitable food system.

For years, we have known that many small-scale farmers and producers operate in a system that favors industrial agriculture and corporations. Since the pandemic, many of our Community Foods partners have also had to navigate a profoundly impacted food system and quickly adapt to implement practices that ensure safety. Now more than ever, our collective and continued investment in Community Foods helps to keep these producers thriving and keep us well-fed.

Co-op staff are connecting with our Community Foods farmers and makers to share their stories about how they are doing, adapting, and planning for the future. Community Foods focuses on the real stories of producers that support Seward Co-op’s Ends Statement. Check back for stories of the makers, their products, and the more resilient food and economic systems we are working to build together.