In Reno, Nevada, Great Basin Community Food Co-op shows how a grocery store committed to increasing community access to affordable, sustainable, local and wholesome food can positively impact local food systems.
What started as a buying club in 2005 has grown into a pillar of the community with over 6,000 member-owners who strengthen their foodshed and advocate for local farmers and ranchers every day by choosing to purchase their groceries from the co-op.
That commitment starts with how the co-op defines and supports “local.” Great Basin’s foodshed is based on the local watershed, and the co-op personally inspects every local farm and ranch within it before purchasing from them. Great Basin also creates marketing bios for local producers so shoppers understand who is feeding them and why their work matters.
For a co-op of its size, Great Basin purchases an incredible amount of local products—and structures its pricing to keep more money in the hands of farmers and ranchers. Using blended margins, the co-op helps producers retain more income while still meeting store margin needs. Through programs like Round Up for Food Justice, shoppers can contribute small amounts that collectively support local efforts tied to food access, sovereignty and equity. Great Basin also maintains a unique Edible Landscape Garden that serves as a living demonstration of what can grow in a high-desert climate—and a reminder that food systems start with the soil.
“In a day and age where our food is becoming centralized and lacks transparency, co-ops are more critical than ever,” Great Basin General Manager Amber Sallaberry said. “We need to provide transparency about the food in our local communities so that consumers can make informed choices that lead to better health, animal welfare and environmental outcomes.”
One of Great Basin’s most beloved initiatives is its annual seedling sale. For 18 years, the co-op has hosted this major spring event as a direct cash infusion for local farmers. Great Basin covers street closure fees, booth fees, credit card fees and the administrative lift of online ordering—so farmers can simply show up with seedlings, fill community orders and kick off the season strong. This year’s event is slated for the end of May 2026.
To achieve all this and retain a dedicated, talented team, Great Basin recognizes the need to invest in their staff. The co-op prioritizes higher wages and competitive benefits, and meets timing benchmarks to reduce gross labor and labor hours so more of the store’s profits can go into healthcare and staff wellbeing.
This fierce commitment to people and planet that shows up in every facet of the store’s operations is admirable, and NCBA is proud to have Great Basin Community Food Co-op as a member and partner.
Regarding NCBA membership, Sallaberry said, “Joining NCBA is a no-brainer. Very few consumers understand what co-ops truly are and why they are important, especially at a time when consumers have very little trust in the corporate conglomerates that run the world. NCBA provides this education and extensive political advocacy that helps every kind of co-op across the nation. There couldn’t be a more important time for co-ops in our world, and we need organizations like NCBA to help us preserve and grow.”
“There couldn’t be a more important time for co-ops in our world, and we need organizations like NCBA to help us preserve and grow.” – Amber Sallaberry, General Manager