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BECOME A MEMBER OWNER TODAY!
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By becoming a member of Fertile Ground Food Cooperative, you’re joining a movement to empower the Southeast Raleigh community by ensuring everyone has access to quality, fresh, and affordable foods!
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
There are tons of benefits to becoming a member:
- Joining a movement to create a local business in Southeast Raleigh dedicated to providing access to healthy food
- The right to vote in elections and run for a seat on the board of directors
- Member specials
- Case lot discounts on special orders
- Potential patronage refunds during profitable years
- Member-owner discounts on classes or workshops held at Fertile Ground Food Cooperative.
Become a Member Owner Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
By being an Owner you:
- Receive special in-store offers and discounts that may include coupons;
- Receive Patronage Rebates/dividend once the store is profitable;
- Are eligible to vote for the Executive Board of Directors as well as to run for a seat on the Board;
- Can participate in events, workshops and classes offered by the Co-op at no or reduced cost;
- Are investing in and supporting our local community and helping keep our local economy strong by promoting local shopping, local products and by providing jobs paying fair wages;
- Help support family farms, fair trade practices, nutritional education, regional artisan foods, organic foods, local employment, healthy food access and sustainability.
All funds governed by this agreement are subject to risks inherent in a start-up enterprise and such risks may result in the loss of part or all of such funds. Memberships dollars received during this Founding Member campaign in excess of costs associated with the preparation of a feasibility study, business plan, and other administrative costs associated with startup, including community meetings and other marketing events, shall be escrowed until Fertile Ground Food Cooperative is capitalized in a manner acceptable to the Board of Directors. In the event Fertile Ground Food Cooperative is unable to meet its fundraising goals or the concept is not deemed feasible by the Board of Directors, Founding Members will receive a pro-rata refund of any investment made in excess of startup costs. The Board of Directors shall keep a record of all Founding Membership shares sold, gifts, or donations, and shall provide an accounting of such monies to any member upon written request.
THE OFFER AND SALE OF THE COMMON STOCK DESCRIBED HEREIN IS NOT BEING REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE’S SECURITIES ACTS IN RELIANCE UPON AVAILABLE EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH ACTS’ REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. STOCK PURCHASED HEREUNDER MAY BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON SALE, TRANSFER, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHERWISE. THE STOCK HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, AND NO SUCH COMMISSION HAS PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE STOCK OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE OFFERING CIRCULAR. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op once it opens – regardless of whether or not you are an Owner. However, Owners receive benefits reserved just for them.
One member/One Vote! A cooperative business is democratically run by its member-owners. Meaning that you can have a direct impact on what the company does. This makes the cooperative a collaboration of ALL the members, and should be representative of the community it serves. This puts more POWER and RESPONSIBILITY in the hands of those that are affected by the choices of the cooperative, the members. All members are invited to attend monthly community meetings where concerns can be addressed and decisions are made by a simple majority. Anyone will be able to shop at Fertile Ground Food Cooperative, but it will be the members that make it work.