Exciting news is stirring in Newport! Our very own Green Mountain Natural Foods (GMNF), a beloved downtown fixture for decades, is on the path to becoming a community-owned grocery store and café. Imagine this: you, your friends, and neighbors could truly “own a grocery store & cafe with your friends”!
This inspiring idea, sparked by a small group of community members back in the spring of 2025, is all about securing GMNF’s future right here in Newport. Rick and Fran Woodward, the current owners, are fully on board and excited to see this transition take root.
So, what exactly is a co-op grocery store? It’s pretty simple and wonderfully powerful! Instead of being owned by some distant corporation, our co-op will be community-owned. That means it belongs to us, the folks who shop there. This allows us to be value-driven, putting our community’s needs first. We can truly focus on bringing you healthy, natural, and local foods, while also supporting sustainable practices.
One of the best parts? All the profits stay local. Any money the co-op makes will be reinvested right back into our store to improve things, offer more of what you love, or even help keep prices fair. This fosters incredible community involvement, giving us all a direct say in how our store operates. Ultimately, a co-op helps support our local economy by keeping our dollars circulating right here in Newport and boosting our local farmers and producers. It’s a chance to “Eat well, do good, and be part of something bigger!”
Wondering what’s next? We’re diving into a series of community conversations to gather everyone’s ideas. We’ll be brainstorming with locals to make sure our co-op truly reflects what Newport wants and needs. We’ll also share survey results to show what the community is thinking. And mark your calendars! We’re planning a big Co-op kick-off party on August 21st to celebrate our progress and welcome even more friends to the fold.
Your voice is vital! We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Please take our quick survey – you can find the QR code around town or simply email your feedback to newportcoop@nekvt.org.
This heartwarming effort is proudly supported by fantastic local organizations like Newport Downtown Development, the Center for an Agricultural Economy, Butterworks Farm, and Green Mountain Farm to School. Their commitment shows just how much potential our community sees in this project. Bringing a co-op to GMNF isn’t just about groceries; it’s about building a stronger, healthier, and more connected Newport for generations to come.