Celebrate Co-ops and Community

October 1, 2023Cooperatives

Join in National Celebration of Co-op Month in October  This October New England Farmers Union is joining over 65,000 co-operatives and credit unions across the United States in celebrating Co-op Month, observed nationally since 1964. This year’s theme, “Owning Our Identity,” was chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) as an opportunity to … Read More

Federation of Southern Cooperatives Annual Meeting

September 1, 2023Cooperatives

Solidarity is one of the core values of the co-operative movement, standing with one another collectively to empower each of us to build a better life. And one of the principles that best demonstrates solidarity in action is co-operation among co-operatives, working together within and across co-operative associations for mutual support, collaboration, and more impact … Read More

Shaping the Next Generation of Co-operators

May 17, 2016Cooperatives, Educational Opportunities, National Farmers Union, Regional Food Systems

GUEST BLOG POST By Marcus Smith In February, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Co-operatives (CCOC) in Minneapolis, MN. This annual event is designed to help shape the next generation of co-operative leaders, and my exposure to the co-ops, speakers, and other participants was a learning … Read More

Farmers Union Continues Excellence in Co-operative Education

March 28, 2016Beginning Farmers, Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members

As supporters of cooperative businesses and young professionals, the nation’s second largest general farm organization hosted more than 110 students from 15 colleges and universities in Minneapolis, MN, in late February. The 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) provided a three-day interactive learning experience designed to help shape the next generation … Read More

Gatherings Bring Together Co-op Supporters

March 7, 2016Consumers, Cooperatives

Co-operators from food co-ops throughout New England gathered in Greenfield, Mass., this weekend at the fifth Annual Meeting of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA). The NFCA is an affiliate member of New England Farmers Union, and the two organizations have partnered on many projects and programs, including Healthy Food For All, a program that … Read More

Grow Local, Eat Local … Invest Local

February 11, 2016Cooperatives, NEFU Members

Artisan Beverage Cooperative, a Greenfield, Mass.-based maker of high quality beverages, a worker-owned co-operative, and a New England Farmers Union member, recently secured approval of its Direct Public Offering (DPO) to Massachusetts residents. This method of “investment-based crowd-funding” is not widely known, but is being pioneered by socially-responsible, mission-based companies such as Equal Exchange, Real … Read More

Member Profile: Crave Food Services

February 11, 2016Cooperatives, Farm to Institution, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmer Profile, NEFU Members, Product Marketing, Regional Marketing

What happens when a chef, obsessed with using local ingredients finds he’s spending more time finding and ordering food than actually cooking it? If the chef is Matt Tortora, he starts a tech company and builds an online platform to connect food service workers and chefs directly to local producers. Tortora and his team at Crave … Read More

150 Meet in Greenfield for New Farmer Gathering

December 14, 2015Beginning Farmers, Cooperatives, Educational Opportunities, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, Food Desert, Food Justice, Grass Roots Policy, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Urban Agriculture, Women Producers

New farmers assembled the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on Dec. 12 from all over New England, New York state, and even Canada for the Northeast New Farmer Winter Gathering. Roughly 150 attendees arrived with enthusiasm and energy to participate in an anti-oppression training facilitated by representatives of Springfield-based Gardening the Community. Liz Wills-O’Gilvie and … Read More

Convention Paints Strong Picture of Local Agriculture

November 12, 2015Beginning Farmers, Climate Change, Conservation, Consumers, Cooperatives, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, Farm Bill 2013, Farm Demographics, Farm Economics, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Farmland Preservation, Food Hubs, Food Labels, FSA, FSMA, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, SNAP, Trade, USDA

New England Farmers Union’s sixth annual convention, Gearing Up for Success, drew roughly 60 members of the farming community when it met on Nov. 6-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Attendees heard from national, regional, state, and local agricultural leaders on subjects such as federal agricultural policy, food safety, local and regional … Read More