Join Us

 

We're always looking for good farmers.

This is not another food company and it's not the same old co-op we hear about from generation before. SLO is a co-op for the farmers that really care. We care for the planet, our animals and ultimately, the people who eat the food we produce for them.

We are a co-op build on values and accountability of those values. This includes The Cooperative Principles and strong Production Standards.

Benefits of producer membership:

  • We pool together so we can focus on our farms and allow SLO as a business to handle the rest
  • We develop our prices with our General Manager. Farmers are paid first.
  • We are local farmer founded and remain local farmer rooted and local consumer serving.
  • We pool resources (veggies + proteins) together to help create a greater customer experience and variety. We can be really good at a few things and not stress about having to learn and juggle "a million" things on our farms to make living.
  • We have sales and contracts with SLO so we aren't competing with every other local farmer but are actually working together to share and build contacts together.
  • We are operating under an already successful CSA model, saving you the hassle of setting up and managing this.
  • We work hard to cross-promote each other but ultimately, SLO functions as our marketing hub with strategy and expertise on staff so we don't have to do this as farmers.
  • We have a strong distribution partner that takes the stress of logistics and moving product direct to consumer for us so we can focus on our farms
  • We face challenges as one. We cannot guarantee sales of everything we discuss with every farmer. We are a growing business and consider all members in the fair distribution of sales.

How a producer joins:

  1. Interested farmer reviews the SLO Farmer's Co-op Criteria for Accepting New Members.
  2. We then look forward to seeing a Membership Application from you
  3. After the application is received, our General Manager will schedule a farm visit with you to discuss your application and review co-op policies with you (we don't like any fine print around here).
  4. Submit a signed Membership Agreement. Our membership committee will following up upon receipt of your application materials on next steps.

Equity Requirement:

We are a cooperative which is a unique business model in which our owners are our farmers/members. When you join a cooperative of any type, shape or size, each member pays in an equal equity requirement. Our membership (aka equity) fee is a one-time payment of $750. The UW Center for Cooperatives explains cooperative equity best in this publication. 

Not a farmer and still want to join?

SLO has an associate membership category for those who want to work with us, but do not farm! Associate members assist the co-op with operational tasks, marketing efforts, and community connections. Contact admin@slofarmersco-op.com for further information. We are also always looking for great volunteers!