Essentials of Coop Membership
Thank you for your interest in joining the Park Slope Food Coop.
Founded in 1973, the Park Slope Food Coop is the world’s oldest and largest member-labor-required cooperative grocery store. Right now, we have approximately 17,000 member-owners who are also workers and shoppers. Membership is open to all. However, only members may shop at the Coop.
The Work Requirement
The Food Coop is unique because every member-owner works a shift to help run the store. By working together, we build trust and teamwork, which helps us keep prices low and stick to our values. To stay in good standing, you need to complete one 2.75-hour shift every six weeks.
After you join, you’ll use our online shift calendar in your Member Services account to schedule your shifts. You can choose the time and type of work you want. Shifts start as early as 5 a.m. and as late as 9 p.m., every day of the week. You can pick from many types of shifts, such as stocking shelves, unloading trucks, working at checkout, helping in the office, cleaning, food processing, or outside cart return.
There are two ways to meet your work requirement. You can choose “freelance” shifts and schedule each one as you go, or pick a “recurring” shift that happens on the same day and time every six weeks.
Work Exemptions
Health Leaves
We know that some members can’t work, so we offer exemptions from the work requirement. You may qualify for a temporary or permanent exemption if you have a health condition or care for someone with a serious health issue. To get an exemption, you’ll need to provide documentation from a licensed healthcare provider and apply through your Member Services account.
We know that some members can’t work, so we offer exemptions from the work requirement. You may qualify for a temporary or permanent exemption if you have a health condition or care for someone with a serious health issue. To get an exemption, you’ll need to provide documentation from a licensed healthcare provider and apply through your Member Services account.
Parental Leave
New parents can also get a work exemption. After a child is born or adopted, your household is entitled to 12 months of parental leave for each child. For example, if you have twins, you get 24 months. If you’re already a member, leave starts from the child’s birth or arrival date. If you join with a baby under one year old, leave runs from your join date to the baby’s first birthday. Request parental leave through your Member Services account.
New parents can also get a work exemption. After a child is born or adopted, your household is entitled to 12 months of parental leave for each child. For example, if you have twins, you get 24 months. If you’re already a member, leave starts from the child’s birth or arrival date. If you join with a baby under one year old, leave runs from your join date to the baby’s first birthday. Request parental leave through your Member Services account.
Youth Committee
Young adults aged 18 to 22 in your household can join the “Youth” committee, which does not require work. They are full Coop members but don’t have to work until they turn 22. They can also do work shifts for other adults in your household if they want.
Young adults aged 18 to 22 in your household can join the “Youth” committee, which does not require work. They are full Coop members but don’t have to work until they turn 22. They can also do work shifts for other adults in your household if they want.
Households
If you want to join the Coop and live with other adults—like a partner, friends, children 18 or older, or elderly parents—they also need to join. This is because they’ll be eating the food and enjoying the low prices. Everyone who benefits from the Coop must contribute. There are no exceptions. Many members do work shifts for their partners or family members.
If you live with someone who isn’t family, doesn’t share food or Coop products with you, and doesn’t want to join, they don’t have to. But if your housemates are interested in the products you bring home, we encourage you to invite them to join so they can contribute too, rather than buying groceries for them.
Joining Fee and Investment
In addition to working, each household member pays a one-time, non-refundable joining fee of $25 and a $100 member-owner equity investment (MOEI). The equity investment is refunded when you leave the Coop.
If you get qualifying income-based assistance, your joining fee is $5, and the MOEI is $10. You’ll need to renew your proof of qualification for the reduced MOEI every year. Members who qualify for the reduced MOEI will receive a base markup of 21%.
The following types of income-based assistance are accepted for a reduced fee and MOEI:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Fair Fare (MTA)*
- NY State Health — Essential Plan
- NY Epic Fee Plan
- SCRIE/DRIE
- WIC (We don’t accept WIC in the store, only as proof of reduced-payment eligibility.)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
*Fair Fare will be accepted for members ages 18-64. Members 65 or older or with disabilities cannot use Fair Fare to receive the reduced MOEI or the 21% base markup.
Getting Involved
As a Coop owner, you also take part in decision-making, not just working and investing. Since 1974, members have written and edited the Linewaiters’ Gazette, our online newsletter. All members can write letters or articles. We encourage you to read each issue to stay up to date on Coop news.
You can also get involved by attending our monthly General Meeting (GM), held on the last Tuesday of each month at the Prospect Park Picnic House and online via Zoom. At the GM, you can discuss issues, vote on proposals, hear updates, and get financial reports. If you care about a specific issue, you can submit an agenda item for the meeting. Any active member can do this using the provided form.
What Do We Sell?
So far, we’ve talked about your role as a worker and owner. But you’ll also be a shopper! Here’s the best part: you get access to great food at fair prices. What do we sell? How do we keep prices low? What makes a good Coop shopper?
The Coop is your one-stop shop. We offer local, organic, minimally treated, and conventional produce; pasture-raised and grass-fed meat; free-range, organic, and kosher poultry; fair-trade chocolate and coffee; wild and sustainably farmed fish; imported and artisanal cheese; supplements and vitamins; fresh baked goods; beer; bulk grains and spices; pet products; eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and much more.
Products move quickly at the Coop, and we restock more than once a week, so everything is super fresh. We’ve been buying local produce long before it became popular. During the local growing season, most of our produce comes from within 100 to 200 miles, including over 40 small local farms. Even when the season ends, we still try to buy as close to home as we can.
From the start, the Coop has worked to keep harmful foods out of the store. Our buyers avoid artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, fats, partially hydrogenated oils, and sodium nitrate. One of the best things about shopping here is knowing our buyers choose products to meet members’ needs, not just for profit.
Our Prices
Most grocery stores mark up prices by 30 to 80 percent over wholesale. Our markup is 25%, and we review it every October to ensure it aligns with the Coop’s needs. We’re committed to keeping the Coop affordable. Members with qualifying income-based assistance pay a 21% markup.
How to Be a Good Shopper
Feeling hungry? Ready to shop? Before you start, here’s a quick guide to shopping at the Coop:
- CHECK IN WITH THE ENTRANCE WORKER. All members entering the Coop to shop or work are required to scan their membership barcode at the entrance desk.
- COMPLETE YOUR SHOPPING BEFORE YOU GET IN THE CHECKOUT LINE. Do not leave your cart unattended to shop while waiting in line. However, shopping for items you pass while you are on line is okay.
- PAY IMMEDIATELY FOR CHECKED-OUT GROCERIES. Groceries checked out must be paid for immediately. If you need an exception to this rule (e.g., to go to the ATM), please speak to a staff member.
- DON’T SHOP AT THE COOP FOR NON-COOP MEMBERS or a BUSINESS. As a member, you may not purchase groceries for non-members or a business.
- DON’T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE CHECKED OUT BY HOUSEHOLD OR FAMILY MEMBERS to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Also, do not wait for a particular checkout worker unless you are doing so to avoid the station of a household.
- DON’T PARK IN FRONT OF THE FIREHOUSE or IN THE COOP’S LOADING ZONE. The firehouse next door’s driveway must always be clear. Do not leave someone in a car outside the Coop while you shop. That limited space is for deliveries and for members to load their cars. Park nearby and bring your car to the front after paying. Better yet, use a cart return walker.
- The Coop DOES NOT accept credit cards. We accept PIN-based debit and bank cards, cash, EBT (Snap), and manufacturers’ coupons. We also accept Apple and Google Pay as long as it’s linked to your debit card, not your credit card.
Other Resources
There’s much more to learn about the Coop than we can cover here. Please visit our website, read the Membership Manual, and follow us on Instagram. For quick answers, check out our FAQs page.
After you join, the Membership Office is the place to go for help. It’s on the second floor and open six days a week to assist with membership questions. You can find office hours here.
For product returns, bottle refunds, entrance slips or guest passes , visit the Service Desk just outside the Office on the second floor. The Service Desk is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.