Food Buying
Cooperatives
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What are food buying cooperatives? |
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Food buying cooperatives
distribute low-cost, high-value food packages. There are
usually no restrictions on who can buy a food box. Once an
order is placed, food is picked up 1 to 2 weeks later.
Sometimes food buying cooperatives are managed by community or
faith-based organizations or food banks. Sometimes they are an
independent group formed to distribute food boxes. Some food
buying cooperatives distribute food boxes through host sites run
by volunteers at community centers, faith organizations, or
schools.
On this page, food buying cooperative is used as a generic term
to refer to the range of not-for-profit organizations that
distribute low-cost, high-value food boxes to SNAP clients
and other low income people.
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What kinds
of foods are available from food buying cooperatives? |
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The choices
change each month but usually include variety boxes with meat
and produce, sides and dessert; meat only boxes; produce only
boxes; or special boxes. Food boxes include both fresh and
frozen food. Healthy and nutritious recipes are often provided
to help make the most out of the food in the box each month.
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How can
SNAP and food buying cooperatives help me
stretch my food budget? |
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Many people,
especially people with low incomes, are concerned about rising
costs for food, gas and utilities. SNAP benefits come on
an electronic card that you use to purchase food. They add to
your food budget so you don’t have to give up nutritious foods
when times are tough.
These organizations offer another place to buy your groceries,
in addition to supermarkets, farmers markets and other retail
stores. Because food is purchased in bulk, food buying
cooperative may save money.
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How can I
find a food buying cooperative in my area? |
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The following
is a list of food buying co-ops known to FNS at this time:
SHARE Food Program, Philadelphia, PA
DC SHARE, Hyattsville, MD
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, Newport News, VA
SHARE Virginia, Radford, VA
SHARE of Southeast Wisconsin, Butler, WI
Greater Lake Country Food Bank, Minneapolis, MN
Emergency Food Shelf Network, New Hope, MN
SHARE Iowa, Oskaloosa, IA
SHARE South Dakota, Rapid City, SD
Heartland Share/Let’s Help, Topeka, KS
SHARE Colorado, Federal Heights, CO
SERVE New England, Avon, MA
Extra Helpings, Cobleskill, NY
Regional Food Bank of Northeast, New York, Latham, NY
Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Elmira, NY
Angel Food Ministries (multiple States), Monroe, GA
SHARE Florida, Tampa, FL
The Provider’s Pantry, Lubbock, TX
United Food Bank, Mesa, AZ
Yuma Community Food Bank, Yuma, AZ
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Flagstaff, AZ
Community Food Co-op of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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My food
buying cooperative is authorized but we would like to educate
more of our clients about SNAP. How can we do
that? |
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Over the last
5 years, the SNAP participation rate increased by 13 percent;
however, there are still approximately 12 million people who
qualify but haven’t joined the program yet. As a food buying
cooperatives, you are in a unique position to educate your
members about the nutrition benefits of SNAP. FNS offers numerous free materials to help with your
outreach effort. Check out the SNAP outreach web page for
educational materials, tool kits, public service announcements,
a photo gallery and much, much more.
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How can my
food buying cooperative learn more about SNAP? |
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Food buying
cooperatives are eligible to apply for participation as SNAP retailers. We recognize however that they have
unique features that make them different from many other
retailers that participate in the program. To allow an exchange
of ideas and best practices we have started an email
distribution list to connect food buying cooperatives. If you
are part of a food buying cooperative and would like to join the
group, please send an email to
laura.griffin@fns.usda.gov. |
Last modified:
11/21/2008
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