Cooperative grocers take pride in the fact that they’ve supported local, sustainable farmers for more than three decades-long before it was the trendy thing to do.

Of the “cooperative commonwealths” in the world there is none so prevalent in a nation’s daily life as the cooperatives of Japan.

As editor, it’s a pleasure to review some of the good news contained in the magazine, and that is what “The Editor Notes” column on page 3 will do.

In the scale of stressful life events, installing a new point of sale (POS) system ranks right up there with marriage and having a baby.

The aftermath of the Aurora Organic Dairy investigation has left many supporters of organics feeling confused and betrayed.

In 1997, a group of retail food cooperative leaders got together to build the framework for an online, member-based resource to support the growth and development of food co-ops nationwide.

Founded 54 years ago, the nation’s largest natural foods cooperative has survived expansions, closures, changes in member benefits and products sold, and growing competition.

It would be difficult, indeed probably impossible, for us co-op board members to spend too much time pondering our ethical obligations.

A couple of summers ago, I asked the general manager at my Maryland co-op, Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op, whether the store carried local products and how I could identify them when I shopped the