Stronger Together:

Balancing Autonomy and Collective Power

In the ever-evolving retail food industry, thriving –  and surviving – requires a strategic balance between collaborating nationally, co-op to co-op, and preserving local identity. This year’s Co+op Cafes will explore how cooperation and alignment among food co-ops contributes to a healthier, more competitive, and sustainable food system—without losing the unique qualities that make each co-op special.

Together, we will:

• Consider your co-op’s secret sauce: What gives your co-op its local flavor? What helps you feel like you belong?

• Explore the tension of evolving while maintaining local character.

• Practice navigating differing views: How can we hold space for tension while also leading cooperatively? How can conflict be generative and transformative?

• Understand the advantages of scale: Learn why larger entities find it easier to achieve long-term financial sustainability in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Through engaging presentations from local leaders and National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and thought-provoking discussions and activities, we’ll challenge assumptions, explore difficult trade-offs, and strengthen our ability to cooperate—so that our co-ops remain both locally rooted and financially resilient.

February 2 – Virtual Tour of Civil Rights Museum

February 7 – In-person – Auburn, CA

March – In-person – Maine

February 2, 2026 — Civil Rights Museum Virtual Tour & Discussion

Following a dynamic and growing range of activities in 2025, Co-op Café in 2026 continues to sponsor events that bring co-ops together for shared learning, questioning, mutual support, and solidarity. 

Co-op Café offers a very special online event on February 2: a virtual tour of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, to be held from 7:00–9:00 ET.  

The virtual tour will kick off Black History Month with a comprehensive journey through the Greensboro, North Carolina museum; it will be led by a senior docent who will bring your encounter to life and engage you in America's history. This experience has been tailored to help participants examine the threads of creative and strategic struggle in the civil rights movement in the U.S. and abroad.  

The guided tour, including time for Q & A, will take about 1.5 hours. Following the tour, Columinate will have optional small group conversations, facilitated by Hether Jonna. 

In the words of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum: "This civic learning program will help participants use the knowledge of this informed and consequential history to help chart a more constructive and inclusive future, while critically examining historic and contemporary social movements that use direct action, non-violent protesting as a mechanism for change." 

Facilitated by: International Civil Rights Center & Museum

We will have optional small group conversations following the museum tour facilitated by Hether Jonna.

Cost: FREE!  But don't wait—the February 2 tour is limited to 100 registrants. 

February 7, 2026 — In-person Co-op Cafe

Regional Park Lakeside Room in Auburn, CA

3770 Richardson Dr. – Auburn, CA 95602 – room is next to Regional Gym

Time: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm ET – Walk-ins welcome!

Facilitated by: Hether Jonna and Rose Marie Klee

$50 to attend per person – breakfast and lunch provided with your registration

Scholarships available – email Hether Jonna for more information – hetherjonna@columinate.coop

Discounts available for groups:

Bringing a Group? Register five or more people from your co-op and get 20% off your entire order! Please note that you need to register the group as one transaction and use promotional code CafeGrp20 at checkout to receive the discount.

Staff are welcome to join the Co-op Cafe! Use the Promotional Code STAFFWELCOME to receive 1 free staff registration on your order.

Applies on orders of 2 or more only.

 March 28, 2026 — In-person Co-op Cafe

Damariscotta Lake Farm – Jefferson, ME

Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm ET

Facilitated by: Hether Jonna

$50 per person – breakfast and lunch provided with your registration

Scholarships available – email Hether Jonna for more information – hetherjonna@columinate.coop

Discounts available for groups:

Bringing a Group? Register five or more people from your co-op and get 20% off your entire order! Please note that you need to register the group as one transaction and use promotional code CafeGrp20 at checkout to receive the discount.

Staff are welcome to join the Co-op Cafe! Use the Promotional Code STAFFWELCOME to receive 1 free staff registration on your order.

Applies on orders of 2 or more only.

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