Each October, your Co-op fills with late summer and early autumn produce bounty, much of it thanks to the labor of local producers. Our packaged grocery shelves shift to seasonal savings on broths, pastas, sauces, pantry staples, and more. Daily soups begin in our deli, shoppers stock up on immune essentials and our gift area features autumn candles and cooling weather gear.
It’s a great time to visit, and engage with, Oneota Co-op. If you’re interested in becoming a member-owner of our 51 year-old consumer food co-op, we invite you to speak with a friendly front end cashier, or any staffer you may encounter in our aisles. We’ll provide you with membership materials – and new owner gifts this October. A lifetime share in our community-centered organization is $140, payable either all at once, or in annual increments of $20 dollars. We encourage you to learn more about membership, including benefits, here: https://oneotacoop.com/ownership/?doing_wp_cron=1759259926.4409399032592773437500. That being said, know that Oneota Co-op remains committed to fostering an organization where all are welcome. Becoming a member-owner is not required to shop the Co-op.
October is both National Co-op Month and Fair Trade Month. You’ll find indicators throughout the store on brands we carry which are fellow cooperatives. And watch for focus on Equal Exchange, an inspirational Fair Trade pioneer, as well as more of our Fair Trade partners. Cooperators ages 12 and under are invited to enter our Halloween coloring contest; you’ll find entry forms at our front end registers. Keep an eye out for OCC Board members tabling this month, as well as samplings and demos. Botanical Lucidity, Minneapolis-based and woman-owned crafter of elixir supplements, visits us Wednesday, Oct. 15. Join us during Decorah’s Witches’ Night Out Thursday, Oct. 16. And we welcome family-owned and operated think.well coffee of Waterloo on Saturday, Oct. 18.
This year’s Co-op month theme is “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” These words are a testament to the work of cooperatives. They’re also a challenge. How do we build a more cooperative future? From finance to food, housing, childcare and energy, co-ops nationwide continue to strive for a more equitable, innovative and sustainable world. This extends widely to our global community. 2025 is also a United Nations International Year of the Cooperative. Ten percent of the global population is employed by a cooperative, and 12% of people belong to one. There are more than three million cooperatives worldwide, generating roughly 2,490.41 billion USD.
Here’s a few fun facts from here in the US:
- Minnesota (also home of National Co+op Grocers) was the first state to declare an official Co-op month proclamation in 1948.
- Co-op Month has been a nationally recognized celebration since 1964, when US Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman, a former Minnesota governor, proclaimed October Co-op Month.
- The first themed month was entitled “Cooperatives: USDA Helps Build a Better America.”
- 1 in 3 Americans are co-op member/owners.
You’ll find the International Cooperative Principles here: https://tinyurl.com/565be67c
Learn more about Fair Trade and sustainability here: https://tinyurl.com/2dx368vt
Information about food co-ops is here: https://www.grocery.coop/why-co-ops/ and at https://oneotacoop.com/
Lastly, we’ve got two seats opening on our board of directors in our 2026 election cycle. We’re hoping you feel called to serve: https://oneotacoop.com/come-join-us-on-the-board/. And enjoy October, not only at Oneota Co-op, but in all of the cooperative businesses and organizations in our midst.