Cooperation is more than a business model. It’s a commitment to supporting one another, strengthening communities, and building something greater together.
This National Co-op Month, Oryana joins food cooperatives across the country in supporting Detroit People’s Food Co-op, a Black-led, community-owned grocery store working to improve food access and strengthen community ownership in Detroit. As Detroit People’s Food Co-op navigates financial challenges, we’re reminded of an important principle that connects cooperatives everywhere: when co-ops support co-ops, we strengthen the entire cooperative movement.
A Grocery Store Built by and for Its Community
When Detroit People’s Food Co-op opened in May 2024, it represented more than a new place to buy groceries. It was the result of more than a decade of community organizing and planning led by the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, as well as the work of hundreds of Detroit residents, to create a grocery store rooted in local ownership, food access, and economic empowerment.
Located in Detroit’s North End neighborhood, the co-op was founded to address a longstanding challenge: access to fresh, nutritious, and organic food in communities that have historically been underserved by traditional grocery retailers. For many neighborhoods, access to quality groceries isn’t simply a matter of convenience. It can reflect broader economic and systemic barriers that have shaped where grocery stores operate, what products are available, and who has opportunities to participate in the local food economy.
Detroit People’s Food Co-op demonstrates the power of communities coming together to address their own needs. Rather than waiting for a traditional grocery chain to recognize an opportunity in their neighborhood, residents organized, pooled their resources, and created a business designed around their community’s priorities. That’s the power of cooperative ownership. It gives people the opportunity to identify the challenges facing their communities and take an active role in creating solutions.
Today, Detroit People’s Food Co-op provides access to fresh groceries, supports food education, and creates opportunities for residents to participate in their local food economy. Unlike traditional grocery chains, cooperatives are democratically controlled by their members. That means the people who rely on the business also have a say in its future. And just like Oryana, everyone is welcome to shop, regardless of membership.
Facing Challenges, Together
Building and operating a community-owned grocery store is no small undertaking. Since opening, Detroit People’s Food Co-op has faced financial pressures, including rising operating costs, lower-than-projected sales, and unexpected operational challenges. These difficulties have prompted the co-op to reach out to its community and the broader cooperative movement for support.
Through fundraising, community investment, membership recruitment, and encouraging more frequent shopping, Detroit People’s Food Co-op is working toward greater financial stability while continuing its mission. And the community is responding. In October, Detroit residents rallied around the store, demonstrating what can happen when people come together to support a business rooted in community ownership.
Why Co-ops Support Co-ops
There are eight cooperative principles that guide cooperatives around the world. One of them, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, emphasizes the importance of working together to strengthen the cooperative movement. At Oryana, we believe that principle extends beyond our stores and our Northern Michigan community.
Oryana, alongside food cooperatives across the country, supports Detroit People’s Food Co-op and will continue to support its mission of bringing cooperative values and benefits to the community it serves. Every cooperative has its own history, membership, and challenges. But we share a common belief that communities should have a voice in the businesses that serve them.
Detroit People’s Food Co-op shows what’s possible when people work together to meet a shared need. Its story reflects the same cooperative values that have guided Oryana for more than 50 years.
How You Can Support Detroit People’s Food Co-op
You don’t have to live in Detroit to support its mission! There are several ways to help this community-owned grocery store continue serving its neighbors.
- Make a donation: Support Detroit People’s Food Co-op directly through its website.
- Contribute to its GoFundMe: Support the GoFundMe launched to help address the co-op’s immediate financial needs.
- Become a member-owner: Explore membership opportunities for eligible Michigan residents.
- Spread the word: Share Detroit People’s Food Co-op’s story with friends, family, and fellow cooperative supporters.
Strengthen Your Co-op, Too
Oryana’s current position in the community is a testament to decades of engaged owners and shoppers. When you choose to support Oryana, you support a vibrant local economy, sustainable and ethical business practices, and a responsible, committed employer. If localism is important to you, start by becoming an owner the next time you stop by either location. Together, everything is possible!
