Local farmers, producers, co-op grocery needs help

If food is important to you, please help… In 2017, after five years of grassroots organizing and capital-raising, Green Top Grocery Cooperative opened in Bloomington IL. A key part of our mission is to support local family farms by making fresh, nutritious, locally-grown and -produced goods readily available in our community. Our little co-op has done incredible things and made huge impacts on people’s lives… but now we’re the ones that desperately need help, or this store — owned by 2500+ friends and neighbors in our community — will be forced to close.

Our finances have become critically tight in the last 8 months, but we have prioritized paying our local vendors (they are the lifeblood of our store and the heart of our mission). An IRS reimbursement check of approximately $100,000 was supposed to arrive in January and would have provided some relief, but that money is currently on indefinite hold and we have no way of knowing if it will ever arrive (or if we’ll still be open to receive it). We are now facing balloon payments on the loans from our two bank lenders, with substantially higher monthly payments/interest. These combined factors have rapidly drained our limited cash reserves and we have been unable to secure more favorable loan terms.

Your donation here will go directly to pay local farmers and producers so they will not be adversely affected while we explore every avenue to keep our store operational.

Should we be fortunate enough to raise more than required for our local vendors, we will put any additional funds towards payroll liability and other vendor payments.

The impacts you’d be supporting

Green Top Grocery grew from a dream to reality because regular people believed that working together could improve our community in big ways. In the nearly seven years of its existence, this cooperative grocery store has:

We have no corporation with deep pockets funding us, no stockholders, no venture capitalists, no millionaire CEO — just a volunteer board and a hardworking staff dedicated to feeding people well. And maybe… you?

Why we’re asking you to care

Remember the early weeks of March 2020, when grocery shelves were bare, and restaurants were closed? Green Top Grocery’s shelves were stocked. Our local food system held when the global chain broke… our farmers drove to our store multiple times per week to keep our shelves full and people fed.

When big box stores can’t get eggs because avian flu shut down the commercial poultry farms, Green Top Grocery has 6–8 small farms supplying us — our egg supply is fine!

Tyson chicken recall? Not our local poultry farms!

National lettuce/spinach recall? Not our fresh local greens!

Parents desperately seeking baby formula? We had them covered.

Our local farmers’ hard work makes that safe, reliable food system possible, and we’re asking for your help to ensure they stay paid while Green Top is exploring our options. With enough support, we may find the runway we need to keep the store operational long term — strengthening our local food system for everyone’s benefit.

Is donating to a grocery store weird?

If, like many people, you’re only familiar with corporate-owned chain stores, it probably does seem weird. But cooperatives rely on regular folks who believe that a democratically-run business that prioritizes people over profit is a worthwhile endeavor. And if you ask our staff and our regular shoppers, they’ll tell you Green Top is far more than just a grocery store — it’s a community, a family of sorts, a third space where everyone is welcome.

Thank you for considering donating to our cause. Every little bit helps, and we are truly, deeply, grateful for your support.

What happens next?

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this campaign as well as any other avenues of financial relief we’re exploring. Our community is richly diverse, and it seems we’re all a mere three degrees of separation from everyone else… perhaps you or someone you know has a deep commitment to sustainability, local food, food access, and the means to contribute at a level that could change everything for our community-owned store. Or perhaps you know of a foundation or grant opportunity we may not be aware of. If so, we’d love to hear from you!

If you live in the Bloomington-Normal area, come to the store! A healthy uptick in sales would be hugely helpful as we navigate the current financial situation, plus seeing an outpouring of support in the aisles would mean the world to our staff. Even getting just a portion of your groceries here helps (or lunch! Our fresh soups, salads, and grab-n-go meals are fabulous!)

From one of our local farmers:

“Beds are prepped & ready for planting! Carrots, spinach, lettuce, kale, radishes, beets & turnips! But here’s the thing… we need your help. Desperately.

Our plan is to sell them to Green Top Grocery this spring but…

…for that to happen, Green Top needs to be open & in business…

…and for THAT to happen they need to see an immediate uptick in sales…

…and for that to happen you need to go spend some of your grocery budget in there.

The store is very close to shutting its doors which means we won’t be able to sell our gorgeous vegetables, plants, & potting mix to our favorite customers in Bloomington/Normal.

Grab lunch there — great soups and sandwiches! Even gluten-free and vegan desserts. Grab your locally produced eggs, meat, bread, grains, beers, cheeses, veggies, coffee, sauces, spices, soaps, candies!! Take a walk on constitution trail and grab a snack & a cold drink. Get your supplements, vitamins, essential oils & tinctures here instead of Amazon...

PLEASE. Your local farmers & producers need this store. We need you.”

— PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta, IL