The word LOCAL can mean a lot of different things depending on who is defining it.  Prairie Food Co-op defines local as products grown or produced in Illinois, or within 200 miles of our store in Lombard. However, closer is always better. For example, sourcing a product from 300 miles might not be in our definition of local, but it's still better than 1000 miles away. 

From this excellent article: A handful of corporations control our food from farm to fork. Their unbridled power grants them increasing political influence over the rules that govern our food system and allows them to manipulate the marketplace – pushing down the prices paid to family farmers and driving them out of business. For eaters, extreme consolidation leaves fewer choices in the grocery aisle and higher prices, while corporate-written policies are sparking growing food safety concerns and less transparency in the marketplace. In sum, our corporate controlled food system damages rural communities, local economies, public health and the soil and water needed to sustain food production.

Prairie Food Co-op is committed to creating a viable market for local farmers — at the height of the growing season, local farmers can provide about 42% of the produce on our shelves (we will carry non-local items like citrus and bananas year-round). While not all local produce will be organic, the majority will be grown following organic practices (organic certification is expensive and time consuming). We are committed to providing clear and transparent labeling so shoppers can make informed decisions.

It takes time to grow relationships with local farms, as well as establish contracts for the growing season. So please be patient with us as we work to bring in more and more local farmers and food producers during initial years of operation.

Why Buy Local?

Support jobs: National chains often bring loss of jobs. The opening of a Wal-Mart reduces retail employment by an average of 150 jobs in the county of its location. Your local food co-op will support over 30 staff members, with approximately 50% full time with benefits.

Support the environment: Local products use a smaller carbon footprint to enter your home. Local food businesses that sell our store will be vetted and held to high standards in terms of food production, land management, and animal welfare.

Support choice & diversity: Though a single local shop stocks a smaller selection than can be found online or at large chains, a multiplicity of independent retailers creates great diversity. If you cannot find what you are looking for, ask staff if we can get it for you.

Support quality of life: Spending time in a football sized store, or wandering an entire aisle of salad dressings takes quality time away from your day. Wouldn’t you rather be gardening?

Support community organizations: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses. In 2023, US food co-ops donated more than $12 million to support local non-profit organizations (source).

Support your health: The shorter the time between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that nutrients will be lost from fresh food.

Support land preservation: When farmers get paid more for their products by marketing locally, they’re less likely to sell farmland for development. That means more choice for food eaters AND more resilience during climate-related crop failures, and supply-chain issues.

Support the local tax base: A portion of the sales tax you pay for non-food items stays in our own county for vital public services.

• Hometown: Glen Ellyn
• Owner #: 886
• Term: Elected 2021. 1st term ends 2024.

Why are you interested in serving on the Prairie Food Board of Directors?
I have a personal passion for community connection and environmental awareness and education. I see the Prairie Food Coop as a natural intersection between these two areas, and the PFC as a place that will have positive benefits on our community, environment and local economy for years to come. I am excited about working with other passionate volunteers to make the PFC a reality.

Employment: Please tell us about your Past or Present Employment 
I was previously a senior manager with Deloitte Tax for over 16 years within the Global Employer Services practice. I advised clients on the tax and human resource implications of global talent deployment as well as employee experience. I also led a number of internal initiatives focused on training, mentoring, and creating a motivating, fun, and inclusive work environment for my team through events like office scavenger hunts and decathlons.

Currently I am a consultant with Beautycounter, a safer cosmetics and personal care products company. I share information about ingredient safety so individuals can make informed decisions when purchasing a product. Additionally I advocate for stronger, more transparent regulation at the state and federal level that considers the health of consumers and the planet.

Volunteer: Membership/Affiliations/Leadership past and present

1. HFS Chicago Scholars; mentor and volunteer, 2005-2017, Young Professionals Board Member, 2014-2017
2. Abraham Lincoln Elementary School PTA; Auction Fundraiser co-chair, 2018 and 2019
3. La Escuela Cooperativa de Sayulita; current Board Member
4. Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission; current Commissioner
5. Glen Ellyn Park District Environmental Advisory Board; current Board member

Which of the following areas do you have expertise?
Management, Fundraising, Event Planning, Communications, environmental education including recycling, sustainable swaps, safer food, cosmetic and cleaning products

What experience, education, and skills do you have that you feel will contribute to your effectiveness as a Prairie Food Director? 
During my time at Deloitte, I worked with multiple clients around the world and even spent time working abroad, both in India and Switzerland. This taught me how to consider ways to engage and more importantly to listen to multiple perspectives throughout the life of a project. I feel strongly about making sure all stakeholders feel “bought in” and listened to, as well as transparently providing feedback. I gained an understanding of how to effectively serve clients by creatively balancing their priorities and goals with the realities of a budget and timeline in which to accomplish those. I also learned how to identify strengths of my team members, then manage and motivate the group to work collaboratively towards our goals.

Additionally in my experience with Beautycounter as well as serving on multiple volunteer boards in Glen Ellyn, I have learned different ways to engage community members. This has ranged from creating my own facebook group with 230+ members to share environmental and clean living tips, to creating and organizing a "Trash Talk" zoom to share recycling information with friends and neighbors, to planning in person “Green Gatherings” at the Glen Ellyn Library with the Environmental Commission. I have learned and continue to learn what it takes to create and engage a community both virtually and in person. I would love to bring these skills to the PFC and make it a welcoming place to gather and exchange ideas for community members, whether online, in person or both. My career has been working with people to help overcome the barriers preventing their progress. This involves listening, planning, consensus, execution and monitoring while communicating and adjusting with all stake/shareholders as necessary. I have collaborated with others to accomplish this in the past and I believe PFC will benefit with these skills and those noted in the expertise response above. I have always been prepared to dig in as far as necessary to get things done.

What are your personal goals for Prairie Food Co-op?
A trip to the grocery store is a part of our everyday lives, and my goal for the Prairie Food Coop is to make that grocery trip a bit more purposeful and magical! I see the PFC as a place where individuals feel connected to each other, the community, and our environment. There is a great opportunity to not only serve individuals who already value supporting local producers and socially conscious companies, but to include and educate individuals who haven’t thought about these things before when they visit a grocery store. I would also love to see the PFC as a place where the "environmentally curious" can gather to learn more about ways they can have an impact on caring for our planet. Being environmentally friendly can sometimes feel intimidating, but we will need all of us to help protect the planet. There are a number of different ways people can play a role in caring for our environment by participating in the PFC, for example, making a more environmentally friendly purchase, or learning and engaging with other community members during an online event. By bringing environmental awareness through these opportunities and others, individuals can learn about what personal impact they can have on the health of our community and planet, and share that knowledge along to family, friends and neighbors.

What experiences have you had with cooperatives, food or otherwise?
I currently serve on the board of La Escuela Cooperativa de Sayulita, which is a cooperative preschool based in Sayulita, Mexico. La Escuela is a Montessori-based preschool for 3-5 year olds in that offers a tuition-free education for families who participate, and has recently expanded to offer after school programs and summer programs. La Escuela Cooperativa collaborates with student families, educators and community members in its educational and community program offerings. I have advised in areas of communication and advertising, fundraising and event planning, and program planning related to gardening and composting.

PARTICIPATE IN OUR CO-OP BOARD ELECTIONS!

It's that time of year when we practice Co-op Principle #2 - Democratic Member Control - by electing owners to serve on our board. Owners will vote for directors to fill four (4) open board positions, and those elected will serve one to three year terms. As a startup co-op, ours is a “working board”, not simply a “governing board”. All board members serve as volunteers without compensation and they devote significant time and attention to this worthy effort.

We are fortunate that five (5) Co-op owners have stepped forward and volunteered to serve on the Co-op board. One board candidate is an incumbent who has served at least 1 full term. We have provided a link below to photos and bios of these individuals.

Voting will take place electronically from May 17 - May 27. 

Due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, we will again conduct our annual owners meeting via Zoom and we encourage all owners to attend the live meeting on May 27. A recording will be available as quickly as possible.

CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD

Click here to read about candidates for service on the Board of the Prairie Food Co-op.

BYLAW REFERENDUM

This year, Owners will vote on one (1) proposed Bylaw amendment to allow established, long serving directors to continue serving through store opening. Please see details here.

VOTE NOW

—And It Could Be Doubled!

Did you know your donation to Prairie Food Co-op could go even further? Many companies offer donation matching programs, meaning your generosity could be doubled—or even tripled! Check with your employer to see if they will match your gift and help us reach our goal even faster.

Tax-Deductible Donations: 2 Options

You can make a tax-deductible donation to Prairie Food Co-op through our fiscal sponsor, Cooperative Development Fund of CDS (Cooperative Development Services).

Contact us if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation of publicly traded stock.

DONATE at giveMN.org

Tax-deductible donations to Prairie Food Co-op can be made through our fiscal sponsor, Cooperative Development Fund of CDS. The Fund meets the requirements for a charitable and educational institution as described in Chapter 501(c)3 of the federal tax code and demonstrates compliance by filing annual financial statements (Form 990) with the IRS. The Tax ID of the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS is 39-1540529.

We will forward your check to the Fund. Please make your check out to "Cooperative Development Fund of CDS" and do not use other organizational names such as "CDS" or "Cooperative Development Services." 

Donations are not the same as ownership. No item of value (e.g. ownership share, voting rights, owner discount, etc.) will be provided to donors of charitable gifts.

Donations of $200 and above will be recognized in writing by the Cooperative Development Fund. The Fund will send a written letter of acknowledgment; donors will need such letters for their records should they seek to deduct their gift on their tax returns. Donors of less than $200 have other options for supporting their claim of deductibility (typically their cancelled check) and will not receive a letter of acknowledgment.

Donations are immediately deposited and cannot be returned. Donations made to our fiscal agent on our behalf cannot be returned once made. If the board determines the project is no longer feasible, our fiscal agent will use the donated funds to support the wise use of cooperative approaches through education and development.

Use of funds. The mission of the Cooperative Development Fund is to support the wise use of cooperative approaches through education and development. Donations will be used to facilitate the development of our cooperative. Permitted uses include professional fees, supplies, inventory, employee payroll and benefits, building renovations and furnishings, etc., related to project development.

Direct Donation (not tax-deductible)

Direct donations to Prairie Food Co-op are NOT tax deductible.

You can mail direct payment to Prairie Food Co-op at PO Box 83, Lombard, IL 60148

Questions: Please email us at [email protected].

Prairie Food Co-op made the front page of the Chicago Tribune! We were featured in an excellent article about co-ops in the Chicagoland area. Board President, Kathy Nash was interviewed, and quoted, in the article. As communities struggle with the economic impact of COVID-19, “There is an outcry for a different system and way of supporting communities." Cooperatives keep money circulating in the local economy because, by law, they must either reinvest profits in the store or divide among Owners as dividends. Cooperatives exists to serve the community rather than make anyone wealthy. 

“People can see the value of local ownership....This is a locally owned alternative to publicly traded company. They support local products and vendors, which is fundamental to the core of those businesses.” That support of local vendors and food producers has kept many local businesses afloat during a challenging time.

Read it here. For non-subscribers, you should be able to access the article using "Reader View".

A food co-op is a community-owned grocery store that exists to serve people—not shareholders. Unlike traditional grocery stores where profits go to corporate owners, Prairie Food Co-op is owned by the people who shop here.

Anyone can shop at Prairie Food Co-op, but Owners receive additional benefits, discounts, and a voice in how the store is run. Ownership means you’re supporting a locally rooted grocery store while helping shape its future.

How a Food Co-op Is Different from a Traditional Grocery Store

As a cooperative grocery store, Prairie Food Co-op is guided by values that prioritize quality, transparency, and community impact:

• People over profits – We reinvest in our store, staff, and community rather than maximizing corporate profits.

• Support for local farms and businesses – We prioritize fresh, locally produced, and sustainably sourced food whenever possible.

• Transparency you can trust – Strict product standards, clear labeling and sourcing so you know where your food comes from.

• Money stays local – Every purchase supports regional farmers, food producers, and local jobs.

• Owner participation – Each Owner has a voice in governance and major decisions.

What You’ll Find at Prairie Food Co-op

Prairie Food Co-op is a full-service local grocery store, offering both premium organic options and everyday staples for convenient neighborhood shopping.

You’ll find:

• Fresh Local Produce – Featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables from Illinois and the Midwest

• Meat & Fish – Responsibly sourced, high-quality proteins

• Regional Dairy – Supporting Midwest dairy farmers

• Grab-and-Go Deli Items – Fresh, convenient meals and snacks

• Beer & Wine – Curated selections with an emphasis on local and craft producers

• Household & Wellness Products – Sustainably made, thoughtfully sourced essentials

Our Mission & Community Impact

Prairie Food Co-op exists to make fresh, high-quality food accessible year-round while strengthening our local food system and economy.

• Environmental stewardship – Supporting sustainable agriculture and reducing food miles

• Fair wages & good jobs – Providing stable employment with fair pay and benefits

• Community-centered shopping – A grocery store shaped by the values of the people it serves

Become an Owner

Prairie Food Co-op is open—and growing. When you become an Owner, you’re investing in a grocery store that reflects your values while helping ensure a thriving, locally owned food source for years to come.

Shop here. Own here. Belong here.

Governance & Cooperative Principles

Prairie Food Co-op operates according to strong, transparent governance practices:

• Bylaws – Define our purpose, cooperative structure, and the rights and responsibilities of Owners and Board Directors

• Policy Register – Connects cooperative principles to decision-making at all levels: staff, management, Board, and Owners

Learn more about our governance model, as well as view our policy register and bylaws, here. 

The 7 Cooperative Principles

Like food co-ops around the world, Prairie Food Co-op follows seven internationally recognized cooperative principles that guide how we operate, govern, and serve our community.

Show your Owner pride with a yard sign and pique the curiosity of your neighbors.

You can be one short conversation away from recruiting another Owner!

We would like to see a sign in every yard, so we are gladly giving yard signs to every willing Owner. Each sign costs us about $10 to produce, so please consider making a donation on the next screen to help alleviate the cost to the co-op. However, if you can't pitch in right now, that's OK too. The important thing is helping us spread the Prairie Food word. 

Enter your address below and we will get a sign to your yard usually within a week! 

Board Meeting Minutes are organized by year and stored in Google Drive. If you encounter trouble accessing the minutes, please contact the Board at [email protected] to request information.

Owners are encouraged to attend meetings of your democratically elected Board!

We invite all Owners to attend our Board meetings, and note our attendance policy can be found here. Due to meeting space limitations, owner attendance must be virtual. 

To more effectively manage the increased workload at this time, the Board is now meeting every Tuesday. We will continue to meet the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm. All other Tuesdays we will meet from 5:00 - 6:00pm for strategic planning and status discussions. The Zoom link for these additional meetings will remain the same, and can be found here. If you wish to attend the extended Board meetings the first or third Tuesdays of the month, please email us at [email protected] at least 5 days in advance, and we will send you the agenda and link to join. While we intend to continue this cadence for the time being, as a volunteer Board, things do come up and sometimes last minute changes or cancellations occur. That said, these changes may not always be communicated ahead of time. 

Click Here to View All Meeting Minutes on Google Drive.