On Wednesday, September 10th, member-owners gathered at American Flatbread for the Co-op’s 49th Annual Meeting.
We heard presentations from our General Manager, Greg Prescott, who updated members on the state of the Co-op at the end of Fiscal Year 2024. Members of the board gave presentations about a variety of policy-governance topics, and both Greg and the Board took questions from member-owners.
If you missed the meeting (or even if you didn’t!), keep scrolling to see photos of the event. If you would like a PDF copy of the FY24 Annual Report, you can download it here.
Thanks to everyone who came out! We look forward to seeing you all again next year (and in the aisles)!
As Co-op Month continues, we’re casting our Member Deals Spotlight on cooperatively-owned Aura Cacia. All of their products are 20% off for member-owners from October 15-21.
As part of Frontier Co-op, Aura Cacia shares the same cooperative values that guide us here at the Co-op—care for people, care for the planet, and a commitment to doing business in a way that benefits both.
Aura Cacia believes in the power of positive change—both in personal well-being and in the world we share. Their essential oils, skin care oils, and aromatherapy products are made from simple, pure botanical ingredients that harness nature’s ability to support health and balance.
Every ingredient is carefully and sustainably sourced from growers around the globe. To ensure safety and integrity, every shipment of essential oil is tested to verify its purity and quality. From field to bottle, Aura Cacia’s process reflects a dedication to transparency and trust—so customers can feel confident about what they’re bringing into their homes and putting onto their skin.
A History Rooted in Purpose
Aura Cacia began in 1982 in Weaverville, California, when a small group of aromatherapy enthusiasts set out to share the benefits of essential oils. In 1993, the company joined Frontier Co-op, strengthening its connection to cooperative values and its commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability.
Since then, Aura Cacia has continued to lead the way in aromatherapy—becoming the first brand to offer a full line of certified organic essential oils in 1995 and later moving its operations to Urbana, Iowa, near Frontier Co-op’s headquarters. Now, more than forty years later, Aura Cacia remains a trusted name in aromatherapy, rooted in purpose and inspired by possibility.
The Positive Change Project
Aura Cacia’s commitment to positive change extends far beyond their products. In 2016, they launched the Positive Change Project, a grant program that supports nonprofit organizations helping women and girls transform their lives.
Since its founding, the program has granted over $1 million to organizations that help women overcome barriers such as domestic violence, housing insecurity, and economic hardship. Past recipients include:
Climb Wyoming, which helps single mothers gain job skills and financial stability.
Calvary Women’s Services, providing trauma-informed healthcare, housing, and life skills education.
Resonance Center, supporting women impacted by the criminal justice system through counseling and mentorship.
Catherine McAuley Center, offering housing, mental health services, and community support for women rebuilding their lives.
Every Aura Cacia purchase helps fund these programs, and serves as small act of support for women striving for independence and well-being.
Discover and Create
Be sure to check out Aura Cacia’s impressive collection of recipes to unleash the full potential of their essential oils. Whether you’re looking for DIY recipes for facial care, body care, or home cleaning products, they’ve got something for you!
Winter weather is just around the corner, so it’s a great time to start thinking about winter tires. We invite you to check out our Co-op Connection Business of the Month – County Tire!Not only can they fix you up with new tires, but they also offer a wide range of automotive services and they have a special deal for Co-op member-owners! Present your member card to receive 10% off parts and 5% off tires! Read on to learn more about the oldest locally-owned tire shop in Addison County:
If you need tire or automotive care, trust County Tire Center, Inc! Located at 33 Seymour Street Middlebury, VT 05753, County Tire Center, Inc. is your trusted source for all of your automotive and tire needs. Owners Steve and Lisa are there to ensure that your visit to County Tire Center, Inc. will not only solve all of your automotive needs but will be one that you will be sure to share with others. They take pride in quality service and the ability to meet customers’ needs in a timely manner.
Servicing customers in the greater Champlain Valley of Vermont and New York, County Tire Center, Inc. has the automotive expertise and friendly, reliable service you need to get you back on the road fast! From tire sales and batteries to shocks, struts, brake, and transmission services, they can handle all of your vehicle needs to keep you running in top shape.
With their years of experience, they offer quality parts and services at the best prices possible. They take pride in their work and strive for great customer satisfaction on each visit. Their goal is to keep your vehicle running in the best possible condition and they will not settle for “good enough.” They went into business in order to bring a higher quality to automotive work in the Middlebury area and intend to have each customer leave happy while offering the most competitive prices in the area.
With their excellent selection of Bridgestone, Firestone, and Nokian tires, they can fit any vehicle make and model. They strive to ensure customer satisfaction and vehicle safety and will do whatever it takes to make sure that you and your vehicle only receive top-quality tires and equipment. They understand that your vehicle is a large investment and they welcome your business in protecting that investment.
If you need general automotive services, computerized tire balancing, general tire service, oil changes, brake service, custom auto detailing or performance tires, consider County Tire Center, Inc. Do you have an electric or hybrid vehicle? County Tire Center, Inc. is an authorized Hybrid/EV repair center offering a wide range of services to keep your hybrid or electric vehicle in top condition. Please feel free to contact them at 802-388-7620 or online to discuss the many options and services offered.
How do they stay small and sell big? It’s simple: years of experience. County Tire Center, Inc. has been in business since 1982. Their mission is to offer you the latest in parts and products, at the best prices with unparalleled service. They pledge their best efforts to make your experience both beneficial and enjoyable. Once you try County Tire, we’re sure you’ll be back for more!
October Member Deals Spotlight: Equal Exchange Celebrating Co-op Month, Fair Trade Month & Non-GMO Month
October is a month dedicated to values that matter—cooperation, fairness, and transparency in our food systems. That’s why we’re shining this weeks Member Deals Spotlight on Equal Exchange—a worker-owned cooperative that’s transforming global trade by working directly with small farmer co-ops. From October 1-7, all Equal Exchange products are 20% off for member-owners!
Equal Exchange was founded in 1986 to challenge the exploitative global trade model that favors large agribusiness and multinational corporations. Instead, they work with small-scale farmers, helping them gain access to international markets on fair terms. Every Equal Exchange product is:
Certified Organic
Fairtrade Certified
Produced by cooperatives
Non-GMO
From coffee and chocolate to avocados and bananas, Equal Exchange creates a trade system that is rooted in equity, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment
Bananas
The banana industry is known for harmful labor practices and environmental degradation. Equal Exchange partners with co-ops in Ecuador and Peru—like AsoGuabo and CEPIBO—where farmers have collective ownership, democratic control, and access to fair prices. This not only sustains their land and livelihoods, but reinvests in local communities. Buying Equal Exchange bananas means supporting a model that respects people and the planet.
Community members of Asoguabo Co-op and Equal Exchange Worker Owners in Ecuador
Avocados
In Michoacán, Mexico, small farmers from co-ops like PRAGOR and PROFOSMI produce organic avocados despite pressure from large industrial agriculture. These farmers face challenges like market access and pricing volatility, but Equal Exchange offers a lifeline through long-term, stable partnerships.
One inspiring example is Las Mujeres Polinizadoras de Tingambato, a women’s beekeeping co-op started with fair trade premiums to empower women through sustainable, income-generating work.
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Equal Exchange visiting the farmers from the PROFOSMI avocado cooperative
Coffee
Coffee is where it all began for Equal Exchange. In 1986, they introduced Café Nica, sourced from Nicaraguan farmers, as the first fairly traded coffee in the U.S. market. Today, Equal Exchange supports coffee farmers worldwide through initiatives like:
Women in Coffee Series – spotlighting women leaders in the coffee supply chain
The Congo Coffee Project – raising awareness and over $100,000 in support of Panzi Hospital, which helps survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Chocolate
The global chocolate industry often relies on child labor, forced labor, and poverty wages. Equal Exchange’s cocoa is grown by small farmer co-ops in Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, under strict Fair Trade and labor standards. Even the sugar in their chocolate bars comes from a small farmer co-op in Paraguay, creating a fully ethical supply chain.
Why It Matters
Equal Exchange proves that business can be a force for good. Their success is built on solidarity—not charity—and their model connects consumers with the people behind their food. Every cup of coffee, bite of chocolate, or slice of avocado toast is a chance to support a system that values dignity, democracy, and sustainability.
