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April 2026

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Green Mountain Adventures

Spring is finally here, and with it comes that familiar itch to plan your next Vermont adventure. Whether you’re dreaming of backcountry trails, mountain-fed rivers, or just a weekend escape close to home, Green Mountain Adventures—located right on Middlebury’s Main Street—is the place to start. They offer top-tier gear, guided outdoor experiences, and one of the best local summer camps around. Member-owners enjoy a 10% off their purchases year-round, and we’re thrilled to spotlight this local institution as April’s Co-op Connection featured business! 

​A Family-Owned Business with Deep Roots

Green Mountain Adventures is co-owned by Steve and Marion Atocha, who first opened the business (originally called Middlebury Mountaineer) back in 1998 in a small space above the Storm Café on Mill Street. Since then, the shop has moved a few times—first to the old Ben & Jerry’s spot on Park Street, then a bit further up the street next to the Sheldon Museum—before finally landing, in 2017, at their current, sunny Main Street location. It’s the space they’d always hoped for: centrally located and easy to find, with a steady stream of locals and out-of-towners alike.

The Family

Steve and Marion Atocha co-own Green Mountain Adventures. On the store’s webpage, Steve is described as a father, a fly fishing enthusiast, and a certified American Canoe Association Kayaking Instructor. He spends his free time hiking for out-of-the-way fishing holes or backcountry skiing on the Lincoln Gap. Marion serves as a clothing buyer for the store, and divides her time between the shop and working full-time as a nurse in Bristol. An avid hiker, swimmer, and Nordic skier, Marion’s real passion is raising her three boys and working on her family farm. In true family business fashion, their boys pitch in as part of the Green Mountain Adventures team. 

Steve and Marion Atocha
Steve Atocha with his sons

 

Quality Gear & Rentals for Every Season

Green Mountain Adventures is known for carrying high-quality outdoor gear and apparel, with a focus on brands that hold up to Vermont’s rugged landscape. You’ll find gear from Patagonia, Prana, Blundstone, Darn Tough, Howler Bros., Hydro Flask, Yeti, and more. In winter, they’re a go-to destination for Nordic skis, boots, poles, wax, and accessories from trusted brands like Rossignol, Fischer, Swix, Salomon, and Craft.

Not ready to buy? They offer rental and lease options year-round, so you can test out top-tier gear before committing—or simply grab what you need for a weekend trip without having to invest.

 

Guided Trips for All Experience Levels

For those who want a more hands-on introduction to Vermont’s outdoors, Green Mountain Adventures offers guided trips for fly fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and even rock climbing. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to refine your skills, they can customize a full or half-day adventure that fits your goals. Guides are experienced, knowledgeable, and deeply familiar with the local terrain.

Unforgettable Summer Camps for Kids

Green Mountain Adventures also runs one of the most beloved summer day camps in the region. Now in its 26th season, the camp serves kids ages 6–15 and offers an immersive experience in the wild landscapes that surround us—from rivers and cliffs to wooded trails and glacial swimming holes. Campers might spend one day paddling, another hiking or biking, and another tubing or rock climbing, all led by experienced local guides.

Camp groups are intentionally small, with a low camper-to-guide ratio (max 6:1), and the culture is all about building confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. As Steve puts it, “We encourage a ‘come as you are’ ethic where campers can be fully themselves, without external pressure to act or perform in a certain way.” Over the years, many campers have returned summer after summer, forming deep friendships and memories that stick.

 

Plan Your Visit

Green Mountain Adventures is more than just a gear shop—it’s a community hub for outdoor adventure. Whether you’re shopping for new equipment, booking a guided trip, or looking for a meaningful summer camp for your child, they’ve got you covered.

Don’t forget: Co-op member-owners receive 10% off year-round—just show your member card at checkout. Stop in this month to take advantage of the deal, explore what’s new, and start planning your next adventure.

Hand-drawn picture of a goat

Spotlight on Big Picture Farm

This week’s Member Deal Spotlight features a producer we’re proud to have on our shelves: Big Picture Farm, a goat dairy and farmstead confectionery located in Townshend, Vermont. Their focus on environmental stewardship, humane treatment of animals, and thoughtfully made food makes them a natural fit for our community of shoppers. And from April 15-21, Members enjoy 20% off their delicious line of products. 

Family in a field with their dog
Photo courtesy of Big Picture Farm

Big Picture Farm was founded by Louisa Conrad and Lucas Farrell—artists who became farmers with a vision of raising goats and making something meaningful from their milk. Their small herd of pasture-raised goats is at the center of their operation, and you’ll see them (the goats) featured proudly on their packaging. Each one has a name and personality, and the farmers make it clear they’re the heart of the farm.

Sustainable and Humane from the Start

The farm is solar-powered, uses zero-waste packaging, and holds Certified Animal Welfare Approved status—one of the highest animal welfare standards out there. Their goats spend their lives outdoors on pasture, and the team is deeply committed to making choices that are good for the land, the animals, and the people who enjoy their caramels.

Goats in a field
Photo courtesy of Big Picture Farm

Award-Winning, for Good Reason

Big Picture Farm has earned multiple national awards, including several Good Food Awards and Best Confection at the Fancy Food Show. Their Sea Salt & Vanilla caramel is a classic, but they offer a range of rotating seasonal flavors, too—each one rich, creamy, and a little bit addictive.

 

Boxes of caramels on a wooden table
Photo courtesy of Big Picture Farm

20% off for Members April 15-21

Now’s a great time to try them (or stock up) while they’re on sale for members. Whether you’re picking up a treat for yourself or a gift for someone else, these are the kind of sweets you can feel good about.

A Different Kind of Coffee Supply Chain

We’ve partnered with Equal Exchange to offer Organic BioRevolution coffee – available only at food co-ops. What makes it special? A fully cooperative supply chain and added impact: for every pound purchased, 50¢ supports farmer-led environmental resilience projects.

Cooperative Power, From Farm to Shelf
From cultivation to your cup, this coffee moves through a network of co-ops. Small-scale farmers grow and process the coffee through their own cooperatives. Equal Exchange – a worker-owned co-op – sources, imports, and roasts it, paying premiums that support organic farming, quality, and community-led projects. They then sell it to food co-ops like ours, building relationships rooted in transparency, shared values, and long-term commitment.

This creates a unique co-op to co-op to co-op supply chain – connecting our members not just to one farm, but to dozens of farmer co-ops, and by extension, hundreds of individual farmers. Because Organic BioRevolution is sold only in food co-ops, that connection extends across co-op communities nationwide. What looks like a simple bag of coffee is actually a network of people working together to build a different kind of food system.

Environmental Innovation, Led by Farmers
The farmers behind this coffee are also committed to organic, restorative practices that work with ecosystems rather than against them. In response to growing climate challenges, Equal Exchange created the BioRevolution fund – contributing 50¢ per pound sold to support farmer-led innovation. Thanks to co-op shoppers, this fund has already directed over $100,000 toward projects that strengthen environmental resilience.

These efforts include farmer exchanges to share knowledge across regions, the development of “living fertilizers” made from local microbes to improve soil health and plant resilience, and integrating native stingless bees into farming systems. These bees boost pollination, support biodiversity, and produce high-quality hone – adding both ecological and economic benefits.

Why It Matters
Organic BioRevolution is more than a coffee – it’s a way to support cooperative ownership, environmental stewardship, and a global network of farmers and communities working toward a more resilient future.