October is National Cooperative Month, highlighting the over 30,000 cooperative businesses and 350 million members of cooperatives nationwide.
The theme for 2026 is “Built for This Moment.” This focus highlights how cooperatives reliably step up during economic shifts, infrastructure challenges, and inflation to protect local resources and support communities.
Being part of a co-op means owning a share in a business whose focus is on building up and meeting the needs of the community. That’s a pretty special business! Local credit unions, rural electric cooperatives, housing or worker co-ops, and agricultural co-ops ranging from the local farm co-op to the Fortune 500 company Land O Lakes all share the same basic foundation.
Most co-ops strive to adhere to the seven cooperative principles, which combine to help build trust between the co-op, its members, and the community.
Here are some perfect examples of how the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market (RCCM) aligns directly with these principles:
- The second principle, Democratic Member Control, gives member-owners a voice in the cooperative’s policies and decisions. RCCM member-owners have until October 16 to vote for board elections, and the upcoming Annual Member/Owner Meeting is Thursday, October 22.
- Principle 5 is Education, Training, and Information. The RCCM Membership and Communications team strives to both plan and amplify educational events that center around our co-op values.
- This team also engages members in community events that illustrate Concern for Community, which is the sixth principle.
In short, cooperatives make the world, and our community, better! During this month, let’s celebrate the history and positive impact of the cooperative movement, and let’s celebrate all the members, committee members and board members who have contributed to the efforts of the Rooted Carrot Co-op. Cheers!