The United Nations has named 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives!

At Seward and other food co-ops across the United States this year, we're highlighting the economic and social benefits of cooperatives and specifically of co-op grocery stores. On Jan. 21, we kicked off the International Year of Cooperatives celebration by showing the first of a 13-video series highlighting co-ops and their partners around the country. In the videos, celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie travels to food co-ops across the country, from grocery aisles to farm fields -- and the first segment features Seward Co-op! Watch and discover the many ways food co-ops, their shoppers and owners, and their communities are stronger together.

Throughout 2012, we’ll have in-store demos and samples from P6 co-op producers, displays of co-op products, and information in the co-op about the International Year of Cooperatives. Its time to celebrate the mutual commitment consumers and their local co-ops have demonstrated to each other!           www.2012.coop           www.usa2012.coop          www.stories.coop

Did You Know?
•    Minnesota became one of the first states to enact a law authorizing cooperatives, and has the largest number of cooperatives in the nation.
•    There are about 500 retail food co-ops in the U.S. The Twin Cities metro area has the highest concentration of food co-ops of any metro area in the U.S.
•     3.4 million cooperative members in Minnesota depend on approximately 1,000 co-ops to market and supply agricultural products, as well as to provide credit, financing, electricity, transportation, health care, food, housing, insurance, and many other products and services.
•     Minnesota is a leader in housing cooperatives, particularly in senior housing. The state is home to more than 70 senior housing co-ops, which is more than double all the other states combined.

Cooperatives are businesses organized by people to provide needed goods and services. Cooperative businesses:
•    are owned by the people who use their services;
•    provide an economic benefit for their members;
•    are democratic organizations, controlled by their members;
•    are autonomous and independent;
•    recognize the importance of education about cooperative business and organizational practices;
•    support cooperation among cooperatives, which has resulted in the growing importance of cooperatives in today’s global economy; and
•    exhibit concern for their communities.