September 1, 2026

Meet Our 2026–2028 Co-op Connection Partners

One of the benefits of Co-op membership is that it extends beyond the Co-op itself. Through the Co-op Connection, local businesses and organizations offer special discounts and benefits to Co-op members — giving you more ways to save while supporting the businesses that help our community thrive.

Over the past several months, we’ve been working with businesses across the area to refresh the program and build our next group of Co-op Connection partners. We’re excited to introduce the 2026–2028 lineup, which includes both new and returning partners and a little something for just about everyone. Simply show proof of your current Co-op membership at participating businesses to receive the listed offer.

Services

Brookhaus Essentials — Personal wellness services | 10% off
County Tire Center — Tires, parts, and auto care | 10% off parts and 5% off tires
Honey Wax Bar — Waxing and esthetics | 10% off
Texture Salon — Hair and salon services | 10% off first appointment, retail, and services
Waterfalls Day Spa — Spa and salon services | 10% off

Wellness

Middlebury Fitness — Fitness center | 50% off enrollment fee
Otter Creek Yoga — Yoga classes | Your first class is free
Vermont Sun — Fitness center and classes | 50% off enrollment fee
Yoga Grace — Yoga and wellness | 10% off

Food & Drink

Juice Amour — Fresh juices, smoothies, and more | 10% off
Green Peppers — Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and more | 10% off
Stone Leaf Teahouse — Tea and teahouse | 10% off

Retail & Lifestyle

ACORN Food Hub — Local food through its online market | $40 online market credit
Adagio Chocolate — Chocolate | 10% off
Buy Again Alley — Secondhand goods and local art | 10% off (local artists’ items excluded)
Fifth Season Canvas — Handmade Vermont canvas goods | 10% off (local pickup required for the discount on online orders)
FLŌRA Cannabis — Cannabis | 10% off
Green Mountain Adventures — Outdoor adventures | 10% off
Maple Landmark — Wooden toys, games, and gifts | 10% off
Nest & Gather — Family play, parties, and boutique | 10% off party rentals, drop-in open play, and the retail boutique
Otter Creek Used Books — Used books | 10% off
Rhythm Saunas — Vermont-made saunas | 10% off
Vermont’s Own Gifts and Goods — Vermont-made gifts and goods | 10% off

Keep your member card handy and take advantage of your Co-op Connection benefits whenever you visit one of our participating partners. And stay tuned — we’ll be introducing you to more of the people and businesses behind the program in the months ahead.

April 11, 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.

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.

April 11, 2026

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.

April 11, 2026

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.

March 4, 2026

Spotlight on Klinger’s Bakery

Our Member Deals Spotlight this week is Klinger’s Bread Company, a Burlington-based bakery known for its traditional European-style artisan loaves. From March 18–24, Co-op member-owners receive 20% off Klinger’s full line of fresh-baked breads.

Founded in 1993 by the Klingebiel family, Klinger’s has been producing hearth-baked breads in Vermont for more than three decades. Their loaves are made using time-honored techniques: slow-developed starters, long fermentation, and careful hand shaping before baking in a French brick oven. The result is bread with real structure and flavor — crusty on the outside, tender and chewy within.

Klinger’s breads are made with simple, high-quality ingredients and the patience that good bread requires. It’s the kind of loaf that turns a simple meal into something memorable — and a reminder that great bread doesn’t need to be complicated to be exceptional.

March 4, 2026

Business of the Month: Middlebury Fitness

We invite you to check out this month’s featured Co-op Connection Business — Middlebury Fitness! Flash your Co-op member-owner card and you’ll receive 50% off your enrollment fee! Read on to learn more about what this community wellness center has to offer:

Middlebury Fitness is a community health and wellness center founded in 1997 that puts its members’ needs first. Their facility features a wide variety of the most current strength and cardio equipment by the leading brands in the industry. Is group fitness your thing? They offer a variety of live and remote programs and group fitness classes to meet the diverse and ever-changing needs of their member base, ranging from ages 13 to 93. Click here for their class calendar and descriptions. Other services and amenities include personal training, sport-specific athletic performance training, nutrition consultations with Registered Dietician Amy Rice of Champlain Nutrition Solutions, and more!

The crew at Middlebury Fitness is incredibly proud to be so active in this great community and annually receives recognition and awards for various initiatives. For the past four consecutive years, they have received the United Way of Addison County’s “Partner Award” for an annual event that has raised $60,000 for our local friends and families in need since 2014. Wow!! They were also the 2018 recipients of the prestigious BOB (Best of Business) award in the Health Club category by Vermont Business Magazine.

At Middlebury Fitness they understand that you have options when it comes to your health and fitness needs. They aim to meet and exceed their members’ expectations every day and believe they have some of the most attentive, caring, professional, and knowledgeable instructors, personal trainers, and staff you will find. Their ultimate goal at Midd Fit is to ensure that each of their members achieves their personal fitness goals while experiencing exceptional customer service in a supportive atmosphere of fun and camaraderie.

If you are a current member, they’d like to extend a sincere THANK YOU for being a part of the Midd Fit family! If you are not yet a member, please visit and let Middlebury Fitness guide you through your fitness journey today! And don’t forget to mention that you’re a Co-op member-owner!

February 8, 2026

Mary Hogan Fifth Graders Investigate Buying Decisions at the Co-op

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jessica McColly’s 5th grade class from Mary Hogan Elementary School to the Co-op. The students are currently learning about how consumers and businesses make buying decisions – including discussions about fair trade, supply chains, and the ways everyday purchases can affect workers and farmers. We were glad to open our doors for a hands-on activity that brought those ideas into the real world.

After a brief discussion about what influences buying choices – price, need, familiarity, supply – students paired off, grabbed clipboards, and headed into the store. Their assignment wasn’t to decide what people should buy. Instead, they were asked to investigate why a grocery store might choose to carry certain products in the first place.

Each pair rotated through departments – produce, dairy, bulk, and grocery – answering the same set of questions in each space. They compared local and non-local foods. They examined different versions of the same item – organic and non-organic, store brand and national brand.

They considered what might make a product easier or harder to keep on the shelf if something changes. They also looked at familiar, widely expected foods that shoppers rely on, even if those items aren’t local.

When we gathered back together, the conversation was thoughtful and wide-ranging.

Students noticed that some foods simply don’t grow in Vermont, but might be in season somewhere else. They observed price differences and talked about how offering multiple options helps different families shop in one place. They considered what might happen if a popular item disappeared from the shelves. They wrestled with the idea that staying financially healthy is part of what allows a community-owned store to support local farmers, employ staff, and continue serving the community.

One theme surfaced again and again: tradeoffs. No single product accomplishes every goal. A grocery store – especially a co-op – has to balance supporting local producers, offering accessible choices, remaining resilient when supply chains shift, and meeting the everyday needs of its customers. It’s not about perfect decisions. It’s about how those decisions add up over time. Walking the aisles as investigators rather than shoppers sparked questions we don’t always stop to ask.

We’re grateful to Jessica McColly and the Mary Hogan fifth graders for spending their morning with us and for bringing such curiosity to the conversation. We’re always glad to welcome students into the store as part of their learning, and look forward to meeting next year’s class of 5th graders!

January 31, 2026

Spotlight on Lake Champlain Chocolates

Just in time for Valentine’s day, this month we’re casting our Co-op Spotlight on a local favorite – Lake Champlain Chocolates! All of their mouth-watering chocolates are 20% off for member-owners from February 4-10. Read on to learn more about this local confectionery that has called Vermont home for 40 years.

History:

The story of Lake Champlain Chocolates began in 1983, when founder Jim Lampman dared the pastry chef at Burlington’s Ice House Restaurant to create a better truffle than the ones he had been buying as holiday gifts for his staff. Together, they began making hand-rolled, creamy truffles that quickly stood apart—and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sourcing Matters:

From the very beginning—long before “eating local” was a common refrain—Lake Champlain Chocolates has been committed to sourcing Vermont-grown ingredients whenever possible. They understood early on that using high-quality Vermont honey, maple syrup, and fresh dairy from local farmers and producers would lead to better chocolate, plain and simple.

The goal has always been to bring you their best: chocolate that amazes with exquisite flavor and creates a moment of pure joy. That commitment is why they’ve never added preservatives, extenders, or unnecessary additives, and why they’ve worked diligently to remove GMOs from all of their chocolates while using organic and Fairtrade-certified ingredients whenever possible. With each new product, the goal remains the same—to create something special and offer the best possible experience.

A Family Affair:

Lake Champlain Chocolates is a second-generation, family-owned business—much like the Vermont family farms that supply them with butter, cream, maple syrup, and honey. The same is true of the generations of cacao farmers in places like the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, with whom they maintain direct partnerships.

Today, Jim’s son and daughter, Eric and Ellen, are shaping the future of Lake Champlain Chocolates by developing award-winning organic products and leading sustainable sourcing initiatives. Along the way, they continue to follow the Lampman family principles: dare to do better, always do it with passion, and do it your way.

Fairtrade:

Making great-tasting chocolate is hard work, and the team at Lake Champlain Chocolates believes that everyone involved in the process deserves to be treated and compensated fairly—and that their work should have a positive impact on both local and global communities.

When you purchase Fairtrade-certified chocolate, more money goes directly back to farmers, helping them lift themselves out of poverty and build better lives for their families. Fairtrade certification also provides additional premiums for community development, prohibits forced and child labor, and supports environmentally sustainable farming practices. You can indulge your sweet tooth knowing that 100% of the chocolate used by Lake Champlain Chocolates is Fairtrade certified.

Why Buy Fairtrade Certified Chocolate?

Farmers and workers are justly compensated and provided safe working conditions, including protections against forced and child labor.
Farmers are empowered to build sustainable businesses that strengthen their communities.
Cocoa farmers and cooperatives receive additional Fairtrade premiums to invest in community development.
Farming communities gain skills to better participate in—and benefit from—the free market.
Farming villages become stronger stewards of the environment by using sustainable practices that protect habitats and increase biodiversity.

B Corp Certification:

Lake Champlain Chocolates joined a growing global community of more than 2,500 certified B Corporations united by a shared goal: redefining what success in business looks like. Rather than focusing solely on profit, certified B Corporations are part of a worldwide movement using business as a force for good. They meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and commit to using the power of business to help address social and environmental challenges.

Unlike certifications that focus on individual products, B Corporation certification evaluates the entire business—assessing annual impact across the environment, workers, customers, community, and governance. This purpose-driven model is designed to create benefits for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

For Lake Champlain Chocolates, these performance standards offer a meaningful third-party measure, assuring customers and suppliers that their business practices meet the highest standards. “Achieving B Corp Certification is the next step toward fulfilling our vision of becoming the gold standard of chocolate companies in the United States—a respected leader other companies aspire to be,” says Eric Lampman, President of Lake Champlain Chocolates. “For more than 35 years, our practices have been guided by one core value: everything must measure up to the chocolate. That includes making a positive impact on our local and global communities by respecting our employees, building long-term partnerships with our suppliers, and practicing environmental responsibility.”

January 31, 2026

Featured Co-op Connection Business – Otter Creek Yoga

Carrying the weight of the world in your neck and shoulders? Craving a moment to breathe and reconnect? Otter Creek Yoga, this month’s Co-op Connection featured business, is here to help. Co-op member-owners enjoy their first class free—just let them know you’re a member!

For over 20 years, Otter Creek Yoga has been a cornerstone of healing and self-discovery in Addison County. As the area’s first yoga studio, they continue to offer a peaceful space for relaxation and growth. Located in Middlebury’s historic Marbleworks, their bright, serene studio hosts classes throughout the day, evening, and weekends for all levels of experience—no prior yoga experience required.

Their dedicated team of seven certified instructors, led by founder and director Joanna Colwell, teaches a range of yoga styles to fit different needs. If you’re unsure where to start, send them an e-mail or give them a call—they’re happy to help guide you to the right class. Or explore on your own; click here to explore the schedule and class descriptions.

Otter Creek Yoga is also deeply committed to accessibility and inclusion. Through their Yoga Equity Project, individuals who are part of the global majority (BIPOC) can access free yoga classes or even receive compensation for attending. This eight-week Gentle Yoga Series, led by Sasha Finnell, fosters an inclusive and nurturing environment designed for comfort, healing, and community.

To learn more or register for the series, reach out to Joanna directly.

Whether you’re new to yoga or a long-time practitioner, Otter Creek Yoga welcomes you to reconnect with yourself and your community.

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