Built by Our Community

The story of Caledonia Food Co-op began in 2018, when a few friends gathered to explore the possibility of opening a new natural foods co-op in St. Johnsbury. That small group formed a board, incorporated the organization, and began selling $100 shares to community members who believed in the vision.

From the beginning, the goals were bigger than simply opening a grocery store. Founding members envisioned a place that would provide healthy food for a growing community, create new markets for local farmers, strengthen the local economy, and give the community an opportunity to own and support its own grocery store. They also envisioned creating good jobs, bringing hundreds of daily visitors downtown, keeping millions of dollars in local spending within the region, and creating a destination that would add to the Northeast Kingdom’s food, culture, and recreation landscape.

That vision continued to grow. By 2024, the co-op had earned significant community support and grown to more than 1,380 member-owners, guided by an 11-member elected board. On April 10, 2024, the co-op reached a major milestone when it purchased its future home at 502 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury.

From there, years of fundraising, planning, construction, and community support brought the vision to life. Today, Caledonia Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery store serving St. Johnsbury and the surrounding region, with a commitment to healthy food, local producers, and a stronger local economy.

Our original vision continues to guide us:

We are a member-owned store in the St. Johnsbury area that supports local growers and sells healthy food. We are a boost to the local economy and a contributor to a vibrant community.

The co-op exists because people in this community believed that something better was possible. Every member, shopper, local producer, employee, and supporter is now part of that story.

Cooperative Principles

The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice. They are utilized by co-ops around the world. For more information visit the International Cooperation Alliance.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.