Dear Bloomingfoods Owner-Members,
We’re reaching out with exciting news about an important step forward for our cooperative community.
The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)—the global body that defines the principles guiding cooperatives—has declared 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives. Also, this year, the ICA is preparing to adopt an 8th Cooperative Principle: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at its upcoming conference. Because it aligns with our core values, Bloomingfoods intends to adopt this principle as well, just as we have with all other ICA cooperative principles.
While the official language is still being finalized, the 8th Principle recognizes that cooperatives are strongest when they are inclusive, equitable, and diverse.
Diversity means actively engaging people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives in all aspects of the cooperative.
Equity ensures fair treatment, opportunities, and advancement for all while addressing barriers that prevent full participation.
Inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued, allowing them to contribute and benefit fully.
At Bloomingfoods, these values are not new to us—they are embedded in our mission. Our Ends Statement commits us to strengthening the community and ensuring access to healthy, local food for all. Programs like Bloomingfoods for All and SNAP Double Dollars*, which help make fresh food more affordable for SNAP participants, are just one example of how we put the value of inclusion into action. By formally adopting this 8th Principle, our board is reinforcing our co-op’s commitment to these values in everything we do.
We will share more details once the ICA finalizes its wording, but in the meantime, we encourage you to learn more about the cooperative principles:
→ National Co+op Grocers: Cooperative Values and Principles
→ International Cooperative Alliance: Cooperative Identity, Values & Principles
*A brief note–as you may have heard, the SNAP Double Dollars program is unfortunately coming to a close this month. For more information on this program and our plans to continue the work of increasing food access and security for those in need, visit the SNAP Double Dollars page on our website.
As always, we welcome your thoughts and questions. Feel free to respond to this email or contact us at boardinfo@bloomingfoods.coop.
Thank you for being a part of Bloomingfoods and the larger co-op movement!
In cooperation,
The Bloomingfoods Board of Directors