Written by: Mercedes Gosby | July 30, 2026

On Saturday, June 20, Blackberry Food Co-op celebrated its Grand Opening with its 246 member-owners and their entire community.

Ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening. Photo from Facebook.

Originally the Coast Fork Farm Stand (CFFS), community members along with the nonprofit, Twinberry Commons, organized and converted CFFS into a co-op after the previous store owner announced his retirement. Blackberry Food Co-op successfully completed the store conversion and took over operations in April.

Evan behind the register during the soft member campaign earlier this year. Photo provided by Blackberry Food Co-op.

“When I think of why I put so much time and heart into this project I think only of our amazing community and how deserving this little town is of this endeavor. This includes our member owners, those who are not yet members, our vendors, and especially our local farmers whether they be backyard farmers or professional farmers…it takes a village!” says Valeria Clarke, Blackberry Food Co-op Board Member.

Key facts about Blackberry Food Co-op:

• Location: Cottage Grove, OR (population: 10,000 people)
• Incorporated: May 2025
• Opened: April 2026
• Size: 1,000 sq ft retail sales floor; 2,000 sq ft total
• Number of member-owners at opening: 246
• Store Manager at opening: Ren Gorman, with board members and a volunteer marketing person

The co-op will continue to provide many of the same products as Coast Fork Farm Stand including fresh organic and natural groceries from local farmers and small businesses, small batch bath and home products and bulk items.

Community members and shoppers inside the store during its Grand Opening. Photo from Facebook.

“The Blackberry board has been so deliberate about the conversion process, balancing solid business planning and analysis with a deep, heartfelt commitment to the people and the business that the community loves. The process is not linear – it takes twists and turns – and they’ve ridden the bronco, and have been willing to share their learning, victories and mistakes all along the journey. What a treasure for the startup movement and for their community!” says Chris Dilley, Food Co-op Initiative’s Director of Startup Support.

Store hours are Monday through Friday noon to 6 pm and Saturday 10:30 am to 4 pm.

The co-op is open to the public and you do not have to be a member-owner to shop.

Address: 926 E Main Street, Cottage Grove, OR 97424.

Shoppers checking out at the register during the Grand Opening. Photo from Facebook.

Congratulations, Blackberry Food Co-op!

Converting to Co-op: Stories from the Field

Organizers from Blackberry Food Co-op (Cottage Grove, OR), Hudson Grocery (Hudson, WI), and Tip Top Community Co-op (Brookfield, MA) share their journeys of converting a local, privately owned food store into community ownership.

Learn how to convert a grocery store to a co-op

Grocery stores across the country are for sale, at risk of closing, or have an owner who is thinking about retiring in the near future. Converting a grocery store into a co-op is a great option that more grocers, employees, and communities are considering. Food Co-op Initiative, the Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University and experts Stuart Reid and Bonnie Hudspeth have joined forces to develop a new FCI Action Guide to help you understand the conversion process and the steps involved.

Download the FREE Conversion Guide