KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) When the Monadnock Food Co-op opened in downtown Keene in April 2013, it represented the culmination of years of planning, volunteer effort and community support. More than a decade later, the member-owned grocery store has become one of the region’s most successful examples of community-driven enterprise, connecting local farmers, producers and consumers while keeping dollars circulating close to home.

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Co-op’s story reflects the values that have long defined the Monadnock Region: local independence, civic participation and neighbors working together to build something lasting.

The Co-op was born from a desire to create a reliable, year-round marketplace for local food. Before its founding, residents seeking locally grown products often had to piece together shopping trips around seasonal farmers markets and farm stands.

“People wanted a place where they could shop for locally produced foods from local farmers and producers… a place that provided healthy and sustainable food choices,” General Manager Michael Faber said.

The effort gained momentum through the work of dedicated volunteers, including Antioch University student Bonnie Hudspeth, who made the creation of a food co-op the focus of her thesis project. Hudson continued her involvement after graduation, helping organize supporters and eventually serving as project manager as the concept moved toward reality.

What emerged was much more than a grocery store.

Unlike traditional grocery stores, the Monadnock Food Co-op is owned by its member-owners. Today, more than 5,000 Member-Owners help guide the organization’s future through a democratically elected Board of Directors.

“What makes Cooperatives so unique and so special is that they are, by definition, community-owned,” Faber said.

Member-owners purchase a one-time ownership share and become both customers and stakeholders in the business. They help elect Board Members, shape the Co-op’s mission and, when the Co-op is profitable, may receive patronage refunds.

That community ownership model has fueled remarkable growth. Since opening, the Co-op has tripled its sales volume and customer base, prompting a major expansion of its Keene store in 2019. The business now employs approximately 135 people and serves thousands of shoppers each week.

Faber views that growth not simply as a business success, but as a measure of the Co-op’s expanding impact on the region.

That impact can be seen throughout the Monadnock Region. The Co-op prioritizes products grown or produced within 110 miles of Keene, helping support farms and food businesses across New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

“We’re really looking to create a local and sustainable food system.” Faber said.

The Co-op has also become a significant source of charitable giving. Through programs such as Round It Up and the Farm Fund, customers and Member-Owners have helped direct hundreds of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits and agricultural initiatives. The organization has expanded food access through programs including Healthy Food for All and by becoming an approved Women, Infants and Children (WIC) retailer.

Faber said the cooperative structure allows those benefits to remain within the region rather than flowing to distant investors.

“None of the benefits or the profits of the Co-op get shipped out of the area; they’re recirculated and redistributed back to member-owners,” he said.

The Co-op’s commitment to sustainability has also become part of its identity. Solar panels installed on the roof generate renewable energy on-site, and partnerships with local organizations have helped bring electric vehicle charging stations to downtown Keene.

Now, the Co-op is preparing for its next chapter.

Plans are underway to open a second Monadnock Food Co-op location in Jaffrey, where community leaders identified a need for greater access to healthy food and grocery options. After studying the market and evaluating potential locations, the Co-op determined that a second store would help extend its mission to another part of the region.

Faber emphasized that the expansion is not simply about increasing the Co-op’s footprint.

“We don’t want to just grow to grow. It’s important to us that our growth is expanding our ability to meet the mission of our Co-op and expand the impact it’s having in the community,” he said.

“To help finance the Jaffrey project, the Co-op is launching a Member-Owner loan campaign and encouraging community members to become involved.

Information about the expansion, project updates and opportunities to support the campaign are available at monadnockfood.coop.