Muskoka North Good Food Co-op
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OUR MISSION & STRATEGIC PLAN

"We envision Muskoka North Good Food Co-op as a centrally located, accessible and progressive food Co-operative known for growing the local food system, community development, and self-reliant governance. This is carried out via: forward-thinking leadership, established operating practices and policies, strong community partnerships, and delivery on its mission."

DOWNLOAD OUR 2023 STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Mission

We are a member-owned and driven food Co-operative, boasting a full service grocery market, community kitchen, café and Modular Farm. Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant community through a local food ecosystem that supports small-scale farmers, provides a living wage for its staff, and promotes Co-operative values and participation.

Our Guiding Principles

Community (Teamwork/Co-operative)

  • We embrace our community and work to serve the needs of the members/stakeholders.
  • We foster community by promoting Co-operative values and participation.
  • We solicit feedback from and listening to our members and community.
  • Our initiatives will reflect what our membership/community needs.
  • We practice cooperation on every level of business, education, and networking.

Ethical

  • We believe in ethical, transparent governance that promotes a non-hierarchical, locally controlled, and inclusive approach to decision making.
  • We value open communication, responsibility, accountability, professionalism, trust, and mutual respect.
  • We recognize that it is essential to build strong relationships, promoting transparency and trust, in order to achieve our goals.
  • We believe that diversity is a strength, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Educational

  • Acting as the “hub” of good food initiatives, food education, and support/advocacy for regional producers while acting as a small scale food-business incubator.
  • We focus on being a resource for our community as a whole by fostering awareness and education on food security, nutrition, locally produced food, and sustainable systems.
  • We recognize that in our mission to cultivate a local and sustainable food ecosystem, we will strive to be a resource for land stewardship.

Innovation

  • We believe in disrupting status quo using a forward-thinking approach.
  • We remain open and inquisitive to new ideas, practices, and discovery in agriculture and the supply chain.
  • We understand that innovation is crucial to the success and sustainability of our organization, and we commit ourselves to new methods and processes, unconventional thinking, new process development, and the breaking of traditions.

Sustainable

  • Paying farmers and producers what they need to make a good and fair living.
  • Directing any generated surplus towards growing the retail business, increasing staffing as needed, and towards food-based Co-operative programs/initiatives.
  • We believe that a living wage model for our employees is a crucial part of community wellness, and our overall sustainability.
  • We employ a closed loop food system - from field to shelf to table, back to the farm.
  • We honour the sacred connection of land stewardship (see education).

Local

  • The highest quality of food procurement, accessing product from as close to home as possible and working to fill gaps in our regional food system. MNGFC strives to purchase locally, then regionally, then provincially, then nationally and internationally.
  • We purchase producer-direct whenever possible and continuously explore new, innovative, and sustainable products to bring to our membership.
  • Providing the most accessible locally produced food to our membership.
WORKING TOGETHER

7 International Principles of Co-operation:

01. VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP

02. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

03. MEMBER ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

04. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

05. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION

06. CO-OPERATION AMONG CO-OPERATIVES

07. CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY

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