Member Deals, Services & Programs
- Member Prices - Member prices are published on the market website and on-shelf in the Farm Store. Non-members are charged a 10% surcharge to help cover a portion of the federal income tax we are assessed for these purchases. Member purchases are not assessed corporate income taxes, so we are able to pass these saving along to you.
- Member Only Specials - Take advantage of additional monthly specials and clearance sales
- Members Only Events - Homegrown organizes and hosts regular events for our members. Take advantage of free access to educational farm tours, movie nights, or a special guest speaker like Joel Salatin. On the fun social side, join us for a casual pot luck dinner or a fancy pants Farm-to-Fork feast.
- Special Orders - We're here to serve your needs. Hosting a big party? Working to keep a special diet? Patron Members have access to member pricing on special orders through our local producer network and distributor relationships.
Member Deals, Services & Programs
How It Works - Patron
Governance Participation
Who's In Charge?
The Cooperative is managed and governed by a nine-person Board of Directors. Comprised of our Patron & Producer Members, directors are elected democratically by their Member constituency at the Annual Meeting of the Members. The democratically elected Board is tasks with the ongoing fiduciary duties of the organization, along with the important decision-making processes for business development. Our Board oversees the Management Staff, which in turn lead the rest of the staff and volunteer efforts to manage, promote and support the Co-op's daily tasks. You can influence Co-op policies through your elected board of directors. You have a say in the goods and services that your Co-op provides and, in turn, Homegrown assists local producers in creating products that you want.In the future, Homegrown Co-op will grow to become a financially strong and profitable organization. At this point of time, your membership vote will become even more meaningful & fun, as we will collectively decide how profits are used.These future financial investment decision will take place at the Annual Meeting of the Members each year. We will collectively decide how to steer organization profits to the betterment of ourselves and surrounding community. Compare that future, to your current reality where all your grocery budget's profit share is sucked away by taxes and greedy corporate executives living in far away places.
Governance Participation
How It Works - Patron
Patronage Rebates
Member-owned businesses can, in time, generate considerable wealth that is sustainable, equitable and used in service to the community. The traditional cooperative way of handling surplus income (an old co-op term for profit) puts the needs of the many before the needs of the few. “Patronage Rebate” is the official term used to describe how co-ops reimburse profits back to their members. Patronage refunds are a return of surplus profit, the extra the co-op does not need to retain while still effectively meeting member needs. Distribution is based on each member’s patronage of the business. Effectively, members get back any excess profit generated by their own purchases. In the hands of a well-rum co-op, a patronage refund systems keep control of profit earned in the hands of you, the co-op members. Patronage Rebates given back to you are not considered income, and are not taxable by the IRS, its just a rebate back on purchases you already made through the business you co-own.
We are not Sam’s Club or Costco! Homegrown Co-op is not about fast deals and cut-rate sales. Co-ops change the nature of how a business is conducted and serve as beacons of integrity.For many reasons, patronage rebates are not guaranteed each year, but as we grow into a financially viable organization, patronage rebate is one tool we plan to utilize to bring the cost of good food back down to Earth for the people of our community. For start-up co-ops, like ours, it is normal to run budget deficits for a few years during the heavy gearing stage of start-up development. As we finish our development plans, and are still paying off debt service, the Board can limit cash distributions back to the members to only 20%. That is the minimum required by Internal Revenue Service code in order to shelter from taxation all member-generated profit in a given year. Distributions can be higher as business matures, stabilizes and become profitable with no debt.
Patronage Rebates
How It Works - Patron
Community Blog Access
Our awesome new website is complete with a new and developing Community Blog forum to empower our Members to share their relevant stories, opinions, research, cooking experiences and recipes.
Become a Member and have your voice heard through the Community Blog today!
Community Blog Access
How It Works - Patron
How To Register – Patron Member
Two ways to join Homegrown Local Food Cooperative as a Patron Member/Owner. Online, or better yet, in person down at the Farm Store.
1.) Decide about your Application process; Online or in person?
- Ready to join, but don't want to make an online card payment?
{ Learn about your off-line payment options here }
- Want to make an online payment now?
{ Complete your online payment & application here }
2.) Decide about your Membership payment.
- One-time Fully Vested Share = $200
- or subscribe to pay five annual payments of only $40
Subscription Notice:Requires recurring billing commitment. $5 administrative fee due with every subscription payment. Voting Rights, Patronage Rebate Benefits and refunds only effective when Membership Dues are paid in full.
3.) Complete your online account registration(s).
We have two membership website you'll be interested to join.
- To purchase food directly from our farm, you'll want to create an account here: www.homegrown.locallygrown.net
- If you want to blog about your relevant stories, research, cooking experiences and recipes with your fellow foodie friends you'll want to create an account here: www.HomegrownCoop.org
