What We Do

Community Table Member Services

Community Table is in the process of developing a number of services for member cooperatives interested in becoming a part of the local food system. Please contact us if you are interested in membership and would like further information.

Some of the services we are developing include:

  • Starting a Cooperative: Resources for setting up a local food system cooperative.
  • Online Member Resources: Handbooks, business contact lists, member information.
  • Networking:  Connect with other member cooperatives and local food system businesses.
  • Community Table Label: As marketing tool and quality guarantee.
  • Access to Markets: We help find and develop local markets for member products and services.
  • Professional Business Consultants
  • Guidelines: Guidelines and best practice resources for local food system businesses.

The Community Table Label

We are developing a Community Table label guaranteeing standards of quality, sustainability, and fairness. The label will serve as a seal of quality and assurance that members may attach to their own uniquely branded products and services. A great marketing tool. As people become increasingly concerned about the impact of their food choices, they will begin looking for the Community Table label as a guarantee that their shopping dollars are contributing to a healthy local food system.

People and Activities Around the Table

Community Table currently supports the following cooperatives and initiatives:

  • My Farm African Farmers Cooperative: Siona Nchotu is the lead farmer for My Farm, an urban farm on a vacant lot in Brooklyn Center. In 2009 Ms. Nchotu received a USDA SARE grant to develop her backyard program and train other African women to do the same.
  • Hmong Farmers Cooperative: The Hmong Farmer Cooperative is a group of 39 individuals who will grow produce for Done Right Foods, a catering company which serves over 2000 meals per day to Minneapolis and St. Paul private and charter school students.
  • The Africa Network for Development Inc. (ANDI) African Immigrant/Refugee Farmers Cooperative: Currently seeking land for farming.
  • Grow! Twin Cities Greenhouse and Nursery: Grows and sells seedlings and rents greenhouse space and land to urban farmers. Located in St. Paul.
  • Project SweetyPie: A group of farmers are utilizing space at North High to grow sweet potatoes for processing.
  • SPARC, The Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in Minnesota, BOLD (Brothers Opportunity to Live Their Dream) and SOUL (Sisters Opportunities Unlimited) 4-H clubs, and Community Table have joined forces to launch a 3 acre urban farm in the North End neighborhood of St. Paul, bringing fresh food to residents, more jobs to the community, and educational opportunities.
  • CLAG (Cooperative of Latin American Growers) and New York Plaza Produce: Hmong farmers are bringing produce to the greenhouse for packaging and redistribution to New York Plaza Produce, which is providing produce to corner stores as well as to their established clients.
  • Midtown Global Market, Latino Economic Development Association, and the Cultural Wellness Center are partnering with Community Table to offer a farmers market for six weeks on Saturdays from 10am to 6pm beginning Sept 9th. Each week will highlight a different Community Table cooperative.
  • AgStar: Partnering is in process.
  • Good Work Incubator: We are carefully building our processes and infrastructure with the support of Good Work Inc.