“The reason I love co-ops so much is I believe in them,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) told members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association last month.

McGovern was the keynote speaker for the 14th Annual Meeting of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) at Greenfield Community College last month, where he thanked cooperatives for the contributions they make to their communities every day. “You are strengthening local food systems, strengthening rural economies, fighting climate change, and fighting hunger,” he said. “And you are doing it in a way that makes those choices accessible to everybody.”

A longtime advocate for justice, food security and an economy that works for everyone, Rep. McGovern is also a member of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus. In his remarks, he also shared his concerns about proposed cuts to food assistance and recent actions by the federal government impacting family farmers in the U.S. Northeast and across the country, as well as his appreciation for the contributions that co-ops make to their communities. “This is a moment for solidarity,” he said.

The UN’s declaration of 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives offers an opportunity for co-ops, credit unions and mutuals to communicate their difference at a critical time. “At this challenging and disorienting time, our co-ops offer a time-tested alternative that empowers people to meet their own needs and strengthen their communities through mutual self-help,” NFCA Executive Director Erbin Crowell said. “And through our shared values and principles, we have the opportunity to work together for the betterment of all.”

“We are so happy to have you all here, especially this year,” said John Crane, NFCA President and General Manager of Portland Food Co-op (ME). “It’s easy to get a little siloed into thinking ‘we’re just here selling food in our little corner of the world,’ but we’re really part of something much larger than that. We are part of a movement [and] the United Nations recognizes that the world needs more of us.”

“We are part of a movement [and] the United Nations recognizes that the world needs more of us.” – John Crane, NFCA President and General Manager of Portland Food Co-op

In his report, Crowell shared some of the ways that the NFCA has been focusing on the UN’s goals for the Year of Co-ops, including raising public awareness of the impact of co-ops, promoting co-op growth and development, advocating for policies that protect and promote co-ops, and inspiring leadership—particularly by engaging young people in the movement. As an example, he introduced the NFCA’s interns from UMass Amherst’s Department of Economics, Nuo Chen and Gabi Urbanowicz, who are pursuing a Certificate in Applied Economic Research on Cooperative Enterprises.

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Electric co-ops celebrate the Year of Cooperatives

The day included a series of peer dialogs providing an opportunity for attendees to participate in exchanges on issues ranging from food security to climate action, supporting small food co-ops to building community among board members, and the important role of associations to cooperative education and training opportunities.

Building on the theme for the day, afternoon panels focused on policy advocacy, experiences from international movements, and partnering for impact with food co-op financial partners, including the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, LEAF, National Cooperative Bank and Shared Capital Cooperative.

A panel of food co-op leaders including Rochelle Prunty (General Manager at River Valley Co-op, MA), Patti Smith (General Manager at Willimantic Food Co-op, CT) and Joanne Todd (Board Member at Willimantic Food Co-op and CEO of Northeast Family Credit Union) shared their experiences engaging with cooperative movements in Colombia, the Basque Region of Spain, and across Africa and the Caribbean.

With unprecedented changes to the legislative environment in Washington, DC, a cross-sector panel on “Partnering for Impact: Policy Advocacy in a New Environment” explored how co-ops and credit unions can work together. “This year, more than any, advocacy is a priority and more relevant than at any time in my professional life,” said Doug O’Brien, president and CEO of NCBA CLUSA. “We’ve got to lean into the 6th Principle [of cooperation among co-ops], we’ve got to figure out how to work together, and we have to make sure we can advance or protect the priorities that we have,” O’Brien added.

Panelists including Joe Bergeron, Executive Director of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, and the NFCA’s Erbin Crowell shared perspectives on how associations can advocate for their members, protect our business model, and advocate for resources for development.

The gathering also offered an opportunity for community celebration, with the annual Neighboring Co-operator Award going to Kari Bradley, former General Manager at Hunger Mountain Co-op and a member of NFCA’s Board of Directors, who continues to be involved in the association’s work, supporting a peer group and online dialogs for general managers.

“Now that I’m not involved in the day to day of running a co-op, I can see even more clearly that what you offer is a special thing and is going to be a critical part of the solution that will see us through these times and future crisis,” Bradley said. “I encourage you to recognize our superpower and make the most of it by articulating [our] values.”

Members of the NFCA community are invited to donate to the Cooperative Development Foundation’s Education Fund in Kari’s honor.