Cooperatives operate under seven cooperative principles, developed by the International Cooperative Alliance (last revised in 1995).

These 7 principles are what keep us striving to improve the store, the local community and the environment.  Please join us in spreading the word about how cooperatives benefit the communities and the world we live in.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

We are a voluntary organization, open to all persons able to use our services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Our cooperative is a democratic organization controlled by our members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions through the members they elect as their representatives to serve on the Board of Directors. In a cooperative, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

3. Member Economic Participation

Members of our cooperative are expected to contribute capital equitably and to democratically control the capital of the business. Each member is required to make a $100 equity investment in order to join. These funds are used to capitalize the store.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Our cooperative is an autonomous organization controlled by our members. There is only one Wheatsfield Co-op!

5. Education, Training and Information

Wheatsfield provides education and training for our members, directors, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the cooperative.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives

We believe that cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together at the local, regional, national and international levels. As a part of the cooperative community, we work to strengthen and support other cooperatives. Visit the Stronger Together website, a national website for cooperatives provided by the National Cooperative Grocers Asssociation, for food news and recipe ideas.

7. Concern for Community

We seek to be a model of an environmentally aware, socially just, community based business. We believe that we have an active role to play in the local community in building thriving, sustainable relationships between members, the local community and the environment.