How it Works
Membership is open to adults over 18 years old, and comes with a few important responsibilities:
- $175 Per Adult
Includes a one-time $150 investment in the Co-op, plus a nonrefundable $25 administrative fee for each adult in your household. Payment plans are available (see below). - Work Commitment
All Co-op Members commit to work two hours every four weeks either in the store or with one of our committees. - Orientation
Co-op Members agree to view an orientation video before working in the Store.
Investment & Fee
To help cover the costs of opening and running the Co-op, each member pays a small administrative fee and a larger membership investment. Every adult who shares in your household’s food must pay the administrative fee and the membership investment.* You will be able to buy food at significantly lower prices and the savings will quickly compensate for your investment.
The non-refundable administrative fee of $25 covers day-to-day costs like printing flyers, bank fees, and hosting our website. The refundable membership investment of $1
50 contributes to the costs of running the store, such as rent and utilities. Administrative fees and the membership investment are not tax deductible. The Co-op is incorporated as a not-for-profit membership cooperative under the laws of New York State.
Member investments will be refunded under the following situations:
- The member chooses to resign from the Co-op and requests, in writing, the return of his or her investment.
- The Co-op dissolves.
Whenever the Co-op is required to return a Member’s investment, under the By-laws, the Co-op may repay the investment in a lump sum or in such installments as the Board of Directors in its discretion sees fit. As with any investment, there is risk.
Workshifts
Member labor keeps overhead low, which in turn helps keep food costs as low as possible. Members can fulfill their work requirement through various responsibilities, from stocking shelves in the store to website maintenance, record-keeping, or being cashiers. Members can also work with one of our committees, which handle activities done mostly outside the store. Member work shift requirements are currently two hours every four weeks, and may change based on the number of Co-op members or other variables.
Those who are members of Park Slope Food Coop may be able to have hours worked with us count towards the work requirement for both co-ops. Read our FAQs for specifics on this.
If you are unable to work due to disability or other circumstances, please email or call us. We will try to work out a membership plan specific to your needs. For further information, contact our Membership Relief Council.
Payment Plans
Each adult member of your household must fulfill all membership requirements. This policy is crucial to raising sufficient capital for opening and running the Co-op. It also creates a community in which all adults who benefit from the Co-op contribute to its growth. Please note that for these, and additional legal reasons, you may not shop for a business or restaurant at the Co-op. The Co-op reserves the right to follow up if the quantity of purchases does not appear to match the number of people in the household over a significant period of time.
We have four membership plans to suit people with different needs. Find the plan that works for you and join online. If you prefer to join by mail, print our paper application.
| Avocado Plan Pay the investment fee and an additional donation to help us expand our hours of operation sooner. |
|
$325 Join NOW with the Avocado Plan |
| Lettuce Plan Pay the total investment fee now. |
|
$175 Join NOW with the Lettuce Plan |
| Carrot Plan Pay the total administration fee now and the membership investment in installments over the next year. |
|
$25 Join NOW with the Carrot Plan |
| Apple Plan *For those who qualify, pay a reduced administrative fee now and the membership investment in installments over the next five years. |
|
$5 Join with the Apple Plan by submitting a PAPER APPLICATION* |
* To qualify for the Apple Plan you must show proof of current participation in a public assistance program such as those listed here. The Co-op will consider on a case-by-case basis requests for the Apple Plan based on other types of financial hardship. Please call or email if you have such a hardship. While we accept EBT payments for groceries, we cannot accept EBT to pay the member investment or administrative fee.
Qualifying programs:
- Unemployment Benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medicaid
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
- Family Health Plus/ Child Health Plus
- Section 8 housing subsidy
- Advantage Program (Fixed Income, Worker or Children’s Advantage) issued by Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) or Human Resources Administration (HRA) or Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
- SNAP/Food stamps
If you do not qualify for the Apple plan but feel you cannot afford the Carrot plan, please email or call us. We will try to work out a membership plan specific to your needs. For further information, contact our Membership Relief Council.
NOTE: The information you provide on the application and in other communications about your membership will be kept strictly confidential. From time to time, we will publish lists of our current members’ names; please indicate on the application if you are willing to be included on such lists. After you join you will also receive a confirmation email from the Co-op. All members will be added to our email list. You will receive approximately two emails per month. If you do not have email, we will let you know how to get updates. If you have any questions, please contact us at (718) 208-4778 or at membership@greenehillfood.coop. To learn more about our Membership Relief Council for handling special requests, click here.