Newsletter: June 2025

The Mushroom Messenger

KCG Monthly Newsletter: June 2025

Bringing you the monthly news of Kennett Community Grocer, a growing Food Co-op committed to local food, community, and culture.

Hello to our Member-Owners and Friends!
 
In this edition:
WHAT’S THE BOARD BEEN UP TO?

Your co-op Board has been busy tending to more than just ideas—we’ve been nurturing plans. At our May meeting, we dug into thoughtful discussion about what’s next, including potentially opening a 501c3 nonprofit to support KCG in capital campaign fundraising efforts, how best to welcome and orient our newly elected Board members, and how to carry forward the hopes and ideas shared by Member-Owners during our 2025 Annual Meeting.

One promising idea? A KCG “mini store”—a smaller-scale version of our dream grocery store that could help us start serving the community sooner, while we continue the search for a long-term location big enough to hold all of our ambitions. (You’ll find more on that in the Special Feature below.)

Speaking of which, we are also delighted to share some good news: we had a competitive election this year, and seven terrific new Board Members have been elected! You can read all about them below. We're excited for the fresh ideas, energy, and experience they bring. We have made great progress in the Governance of the KCG Board and will continue to improve as we seat the new Board at the next Board Meeting.

Just a reminder: Board meetings are open to all Member-Owners and take place on the second Monday of each month from 7:00–8:00 PM at the Kennett Senior Center. The next one is June 9, and we’d love to see you there—in person or online! You can also join online at this Zoom link.


🎉 Congrats, newly-elected Board Members! 🎉

Please join us in warmly congratulating and welcoming our seven new volunteer Board Members. We can't do it without you! And a big thank you to all of the candidates who stepped forward and applied - we hope to have you join us in other volunteer capacities.

Caitlin Treacy Buttery is a skilled team leader and collaborator who will bring energy, strong customer service instincts, and a deep passion for sustainable food systems to KCG's Board. Her connections to local food professionals, event planning know-how, and background in managing teams and inventory will serve the co-op well as we expand outreach and explore creative store models. She is eager to support the co-op’s mission through hands-on engagement and community-focused strategy.
Sybille Fischer is a passionate advocate for health, sustainability, and community empowerment. As a small business owner, she brings entrepreneurial energy, communication skills, and firsthand experience supporting local economies. Her interests in holistic health and food access align beautifully with KCG’s mission, and her experience in networking, multilingual communication, and education will help broaden the co-op’s reach and deepen its impact across the region.
George Plumley is a lifelong Kennett Square resident who brings 38 years of commercial real estate experience to the KCG Board, along with a long record of community service. He has served on multiple nonprofit boards, led youth sports programs, and chaired professional standards and mediation committees through the Chester County Realtor Association. His strong negotiation skills and deep local knowledge will be critical as KCG explores physical store locations and new development opportunities.
Angela Wagner brings decades of experience in both law and financial services, along with a deep love for Chester County where she’s built strong community ties. With a professional background in board management and finance, she offers invaluable expertise in governance, planning, and strategic thinking—just what KCG needs in this pivotal stage. She is excited to lend her skills to help the co-op flourish and sees the potential for a vibrant, local grocery store that strengthens our community.

And thank you for re-electing our three wonderful, incumbent Board Members so that they may continue to serve: Lisa Baldwin, Sandi Murphy, and Mitch Warren.

MEMBERSHIP EVER-GROWING

We’re pleased to share that our Member-Owner count has inched up to 473—thank you for continuing to spread the word and grow this movement, one household at a time! Every new member strengthens our case for funding and helps bring us closer to opening the doors of our future store.

BECOME A MEMBER-OWNER TODAY

Behind the scenes, our Membership Committee meets monthly to dream up new ways to support and engage our Member-Owners—and they’d love a few more helping hands. If you enjoy connecting with others, brainstorming ideas, or simply want to get more involved, this is a great place to start. Just fill out our volunteer interest form, and our friendly Volunteer Coordinator, Sandi Murphy, will be in touch.

We’d love to have you join us!

VOLUNTEER TODAY
MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT: NORTH STAR ORCHARD
 

Tucked away in Cochranville, PA, North Star Orchard is a true gem in our local food landscape. And lucky for you, they have just reopened their on-farm store for the season, and it’s brimming with the best of what our region has to offer! ▶️ See a preview from last season here.

Owned and operated by farmers Ike and Lisa Kerschner, North Star Orchard has been cultivating delicious, responsibly grown produce since 1992. Their passion for variety and sustainability is unmatched! Beyond their diverse selection of apples and other fresh produce, their farm store is stocked with eggs, meats, cheeses, honey, preserves, and other locally sourced staples that make each visit a small adventure in flavor.

KCG Member-Owners receive a 10% discount at North Star Orchard’s farm store—just show your membership card at checkout. They are located at 3232 Limestone Road, Cochranville, PA and open Thursday through Sunday 10AM to 5PM. Supporting this local farm means supporting the very roots of our co-op’s mission: fresh, local food you can trust, grown by people who care deeply about the land and the community.

To learn how to claim your discount at our 17 other Member Benefit partners—check out the MBP page of our website.

❓Lost your membership card?  Need extras for household members?  Fill out this form or contact KCG at info@kennettcommunitygrocer.coop to request a replacement.

SPECIAL FEATURE:

MINI STORE EXPLORATION

At our Annual Member Meeting in April, one message came through loud and clear: our Member-Owners want to see a store open sooner rather than later. The Board agrees—but as many of you know, opening a full-scale grocery store requires a hefty investment. With an average cost of $653 per square foot in today’s economy, the price tag is simply out of reach right now, and fundraising for a traditional model would be a challenge.

Co-ops across the country are facing similar hurdles, and many are beginning to reimagine what’s possible. One model gaining traction is a “mini store” format that prioritizes local goods in a smaller space. But even these scaled-down stores face razor-thin profit margins and sustainability risks unless done thoughtfully.

Currently, co-ops such as ours and farmers across the country are considering a local food store with a business model known as a Farm Stop—which might just be the perfect fit for KCG. You may have seen this concept recently featured in The New York Times, thanks to the success of Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A Farm Stop is a smaller retail store run by a co-op that sells products from local farmers and producers on a consignment basis. That means local growers and makers receive a fair price for their goods, and shoppers get to know exactly where their food comes from.

In many ways, a Farm Stop mirrors the vision KCG has had all along: community-owned, producer-focused, and grounded in seasonal, local food. It’s not a conventional grocery store—and that’s the point. It’s a hub for fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy, meats, and locally prepared goods, open 7 days a week and focused on strengthening our local food economy.

This month, we’re beginning conversations with local farmers to gauge their interest in this model. If there’s enthusiasm, we’ll roll up our sleeves and begin developing a plan. Stay tuned—it’s an exciting time to be part of KCG!

Your financial contribution to Kennett Community Grocer’s "Capital Stew" will help bring healthy, local, and affordable food to our community.

Please consider making a donation today!


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