Report from the General Manager and Board of Directors
By Emile Amarotico, General Manager and Ed Claassen, Board President
We are excited to announce that in April the Ashland Food Cooperative entered into a contract to purchase a 1.8 acre undeveloped lot at 120 Clear Creek Drive in Ashland. The parcel is located directly behind Ashland Lumber and is about one block as the crow flies (across the railroad tracks), or about a third of a mile via Oak Street from the Store. This purchase is a major step in the Co-op’s vision for growing its downtown presence and is an early step in a more extensive design process that will involve representatives for all the key stakeholders and will include all of our facilities. Our intention is to retain existing facilities and explore how they can best be used given their close proximity to Ashland's vibrant downtown.
For a number of years, the Co-op has been actively engaged in exploring solutions to address limited store capacity and parking. We considered properties outside the downtown core for a second store and decided the best way we can serve our owners is to expand our space and offerings in downtown Ashland.
We believe this property has the potential to address future needs. The scarcity of lots this large in the downtown core makes it an attractive investment for the future.
.jpg)
By purchasing this property we have secured our option to develop it in the future, as we continue to explore the best way to meet the needs of our shoppers. Our goal is to have a store that is a delight to shop in, where you can get the food you love and trust, and where you can explore and learn more about healthy food and its preparation.
The zoning of this property will allow the Co-op to develop not only a larger store, with significant parking, but potentially workforce and/or cooperative housing on the site.
We welcome your questions and suggestions at AFCCampus@ashlandfood.coop.
More Co-op News
December Change for Good: Jackson County Fuel Committee
If you’ve lived through even one Rogue Valley winter, you know the cold settles in quickly. The frosty mornings, the long dark evenings, the kind of chill that lingers no matter how many layers you put on - winter can be tough. And while many of us can manage with the help of heaters, woodstoves, and warm homes, thousands of families in our community struggle to access the heat they need to stay safe and comfortable. That’s where the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC) comes in!
November Change for Good Recipient
Meet our November Change for Good Recipient: The Siletz Health Clinic
Celebrating Indigenous Food and Traditions
Each October, when so many across the country celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Ashland Food Co-op pauses to reflect on the land we call home, the people who've cared for it, and how food and connections to the land can help us return that inheritance in a positive way.
September Change for Good: Siskiyou Field Institute
This month, your Change for Good donations support Siskiyou Field Institute (SFI), an organization that helps people connect with one of the most biodiverse regions in North America: the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion.
Meet our August Change for Good Partner - Ashland Schools Foundation
August's Change for Good partner is a perfect fit for this month as our kids head back to school. Ashland Schools Foundation (ASF) is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting quality education in Ashland's public schools. You may have run in the Monster Dash or noticed the "Perk Up for Students" sign at our local coffeeshops - these are just some of the (fun and delicious) ways you are already supporting ASF.
Welcome to the Board!
We are happy to welcome two new Directors, Evan Archerd and Elizabeth Walsh, to the Board! And we're thrilled to have Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro continuing to serve!
July Change for Good Partner: White Oak Farm
This month, we’re proud to support White Oak Farm, an inspiring organization that blends sustainable farming, environmental education, and community nourishment—right here in Southern Oregon.
Bee the Change: Supporting Pollinators, Art, and Education with Bee Girl
Here at Ashland Food Co-op, we’re buzzing with excitement about our July Change for Good partner: Bee Girl / Bee Regenerative! This local nonprofit is doing some bee-autiful work to protect pollinators, restore habitats, and teach the next generation how to care for the tiny creatures that keep our food systems thriving.
Bee Girl + Bee Regenerative: More Than Just a Name
May Change for Good: Food & Friends
Each May, Ashland Food Co-op highlights a local nonprofit doing vital work in our community—and this month, we're proud to feature Food & Friends, the only Meals on Wheels program serving Jackson and Josephine Counties.
April Change for Good: ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks: Growing Sustainably, Connecting Community
March Change for Good: Parker House Project
Homelessness remains a serious issue in Southern Oregon, and women—especially single women and mothers with children—face unique challenges when seeking shelter and stability. That’s where Parker House Project comes in.
February Change for Good: BASE Southern Oregon
This February, Ashland Food Co-op is proud to support BASE Southern Oregon as our Change for Good partner! BASE (Black Alliance & Social Empowerment) is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting and empowering Black residents in Southern Oregon through events, resources, and advocacy.
Your donations at the register all month long will help BASE continue their impactful work, and there are plenty of ways to get involved! Here’s what’s coming up: