The Future Is Now: Growing Maine’s Food Co-op Economy Through Cooperation

Maine’s food co-ops are thriving in 2026, experiencing increased membership and community support amidst new and ongoing challenges like rising costs, labor market challenges, and the pressures of corporate consolidation. Food Co-ops support local economies, food access, sustainability, and meeting the needs of our communities above all else.

Belfast Community Co-op is entering our 50th year and looking to the future. Our fellow established food co-ops across Maine are being joined by a new crop of start-up food co-ops across the state. The future is now. Our opportunity is to develop deeper, beneficial, and collaborative services and a network that benefits our co-ops while growing the food cooperative movement and our web of interdependence.

Our workshop is guided by the spirit of Principle 6, cooperation among cooperatives, and led by the Senior Leadership Team of Belfast Community Co-op. This strategic discussion and panel is a first step toward exploring greater networking and shared services. We will share successful examples of shared services and next-level businesses, then lead participants in discussion and information gathering about current needs and challenges for food co-ops and co-ops in the food system. Finally, we will take first steps toward building a collaborative and cooperative network that can benefit us all.

Growing the co-op economy strengthens inter-cooperative collaboration, builds community wealth, fosters education, secures strategic partnerships, and provides business support. A rising tide lifts all boats, together.