Marian Kuper, Board Treasurer
The 2026 Member-Owners’ Annual meeting was held October 22 at the Cedar Falls Community Main Street Office. Thanks so much to all attendees and also to the members who voted in the latest election for our Board of Directors.
Member-owners elected Rich Ross and Dean Schillinger to the board. Rich had been appointed to the board a year ago to fulfill the final year of another director’s term when that director moved away. We’re thrilled to have Rich reaffirm his commitment to the co-op! Dean brings both a dietitian’s perspective and – like Rich – a focus on helping folks gain access to the healthiest food choices possible. Welcome!
Board member Mallory DeVries has concluded her term. She’ll stay involved with us to the extent she can, which is stellar of her! Her communications expertise, real-world experience with farming, food systems and health matters, and her thorough understanding of the importance of local food kept us on point. We’re a better, wiser organization as a result. Thanks, Mallory!
At the annual meeting, board members reviewed the highlights of the 2025-2026 fiscal year as well as what we see when we look to the future. A store site still eludes us, but work on that is ongoing and dynamic, full of 1) variables, 2) the hard work of planning and negotiations and 3) calculations designed to foster smart decisions and a sustainable path forward. And while our financial picture could be better, we continue to be surprised and motivated to keep striving for our goals when – at tabling events and other community outreach sessions – we meet folks who’ve never heard of the Rooted Carrot Market Co-operative and are eager to help us make our dream become a reality. Seriously, every new member is cause for celebration!
Finally – plugged in as we are to the ways our fellow food co-ops are navigating today’s unpredictable economic environment – we’re mulling some tweaks to the size and nature of the physical store we envision. Besides the full service retail grocery idea, there are innovative other models that allow co-operatively-minded consumers to do business with the purveyors of fresh local produce, meat and dairy products, and more.
Never forget: member-owners’ ideas and energy are keys to our success. Volunteer today!