Food Co-op Initiative Partners with University of Vermont

Food Co-op Initiative Partners with University of Vermont

As leaders in promoting sustainable food systems, the University of Vermont and Food Co-op Initiative have joined forces to create a comprehensive, online training program covering everything you need to know to successfully open a retail food co-op. Here’s the site for full information: http://learn.uvm.edu/program/food-co-op/.

The certificate course is led by Stuart Reid, executive director of the Food Co-op Initiative, and by Clem Nilan, a lifelong educator and successful food co-op manager. The program schedule is organized into weekly lessons with lectures, readings, engaging media, discussions, and relevant assignments. Participants will not only learn key skills for launching a co-op, but also develop a network of professionals essential to their future success through group discussions in an online forum that will enable meaningful dialogue with fellow students, instructors, and guest experts. The eight-week course is scheduled to begin on February 27, 2017, and includes optional participation at the annual Up & Coming conference for new food co-ops.

This program is designed for members of an organizing committee trying to start a retail food co-op and professionals in support roles such as project managers
and co-op developers.