Berkshire Food Co-op

It Takes a Community to Sustain the Berkshire Food Co-op

For 45 years, the Berkshire Food Co-op has been more than a grocery store. Since opening on Rossiter Street in 1981 and later relocating to Bridge Street, we have served as a member-owned, community-based natural market open to all. We are dedicated to supporting local farmers, paying fair wages, and making healthy, sustainable food accessible, while also providing a welcoming place to gather with others who share these values.

However, inflation, rising food costs, and above-market rent have strained our cash reserves, creating significant challenges to sustaining what we have built. 

In recent months, we have been working closely with our national co-op partners, National Co+op Grocers and Columinate--organizations that specialize in strengthening community-owned grocery stores across the country. Together, we are implementing a focused recovery strategy that includes:

• Pursuing lease improvements to reduce occupancy costs
• Aligning staffing and operating expenses with industry benchmarks
• Strengthening pricing, margins, and purchasing capacity
• Prioritizing primary suppliers, local producers, and cooperative partnerships
• Rebuilding working capital to ensure shelves remain stocked with the products our community relies on

These changes are already underway. What we need now is liquidity and time.

Therefore, we are seeking to raise $150,000 to stabilize operations and rebuild working capital during this transition. Your contribution will:

• Support payroll for our 50+ employees and essential operating costs
• Restock high-performing local and staple inventory
• Rebuild critical cash reserves
• Provide breathing room as lease negotiations and operational improvements take effect

Ways you can help immediately:

1. Make a tax-deductible contribution through our fiscal sponsor, the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS:

• Click the green “Donate” button on this page and select "Berkshire Food Co-op" in the Fund Designation field.

• Make your check out to the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS, and mail to:

Berkshire Food Co-op
34 Bridge Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230

• Through our fiscal sponsor, we are able to accept gifts via Donor Advised Fund, Required Minimum Distributions, preferred stock, and more. Contact us if you'd like to learn more about these options. 

2. Make a direct donation, not tax deductible, by making a check out to Berkshire Food Co-op and mailing to the co-op's address above. 

Direct donations to the co-op support the co-op's general operating costs.

Your tax-deductible contribution through our fiscal sponsor advances the Co-op’s charitable programs for food access, community support, and workforce development including:

• Donated community space for local nonprofits working in food access, environmental stewardship, public health, and other critical community-serving work, helping them operate without prohibitive overhead costs
• Subsidized food access for low-income residents through programming that advances food security and promotes equitable access to healthy food for seniors and low-income community members based on demonstrated financial need
• Donated or reduced-cost pantry items for disability care homes, supporting residential programs and organizations serving individuals with disabilities, reducing financial strain and supporting health and wellbeing
• Workforce access and stability supports through participation in a town-based community rideshare program that provides transportation for eligible staff in the absence of public transit in southern Berkshire County, strengthening workforce stability and economic participation

Thank you on behalf of a grateful Co-op.

Eat Your Values.
Nourish Our Future.
Sustain Your Co-op.

*As its fiscal sponsor, the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS will use your gift to benefit the Berkshire Food  Co-op in a manner consistent with the Fund's mission to support the wise use and development of cooperatively owned businesses.