Scholarship Opportunity for Potential Rooted Carrot Member-Owners

Because of generous donations given to the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market’s Scholarship Fund by some amazing Co-op supporters, we are excited to announce that the Rooted Carrot will be able to award $100 Member-Owner Share Scholarships! These Scholarships will cover the first $100 toward the Membership cost for our friends who would like to become member-owners but cannot cover the total $200 member share cost.  

We are accepting applications from November 1 to November 30th, 2023.

Please follow this link for additional information and an application form. 

Message from the Board – November 2023

The Future of our Co-op

I want to start by recapping what has happened over the last 5 months. With the loss of the 7th & Main Site and no new site prospects (other potential ones had failed) the Board of Directors knew it was time to reach out to membership to gauge support in our Co-op moving forward. Two special member-owner meetings were held-one in July and one in August to accommodate busy schedules. A recording of the presentations were sent out to all member-owners. You can review the recording here. (Note: skip the ads to get to the presentation.) 

Member-owners were asked to make an advisory vote on whether or not we should move forward with the goal of opening a full-service grocery store co-op. The Board would consider this vote and the number of member-owners who accepted our call to action to get involved in the core organization—committees, board members, etc. 

The Advisory Vote took place online Aug. 15-31 through Election Runner. Here are the results: Continue reading

Member-Owner Drawing

A drawing was held at the Member-Owner meeting on October 25 and 12 lucky people won Equal Exchange tea, coffee, or hot cocoa mix! We want to thank the Food Co-op Initiative and Equal Exchange, who donated these items for a drawing held at the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference. The Rooted Carrot Co-op members who attended that conference won the gift basket and offered it up to benefit those who attended the member-owner meeting. Thank you!

Co-op Talking Points for CF Candidates

We appreciate the enthusiasm of those who attended the recent member/owner special meetings. Many people were eager to engage with potential Cedar Falls City Council and Mayoral candidates and requested some guidance on how to show support for the Co-op while doing so.

There will be a Cedar Falls Municipal candidate forum on October 18, 7:00-9:00 at Cedar Falls City Hall Council Chambers. (Thanks to the League of Women Voters for sponsoring this event.)

Feel free to express your support for the Rooted Carrot Co-op. Some possible themes or talking points include:

  • What value do you see in bringing a Co-op grocery to Cedar Falls? How does this fit with your vision for our community?
  • Are you open to a small-group or one-on-one meeting with some co-op board members/volunteers to learn about why opening a co-op grocery store requires special attention from elected officials?
  • Resident surveys have revealed a strong desire for a grocery store in the downtown area. In order to accommodate The Rooted Carrot Co-op grocery downtown, would you be willing to make exceptions to some zoning rules for things like curb cuts & loading dock placement to allow delivery of goods to the store? 
  • How do you define the roles city staff, planning & zoning, and the council play in the approval of development projects? The success of a full line grocery store in the downtown district will hinge on collaboration and creativity at the city staff and commission/council levels.  Are you willing to provide the extra time and energy to these kinds of conversations in order to see this project through to win/win for all?

If you have any questions or to request further guidance on these talking points, please email info@rootedcarrot.coop. Thank you for your support!

Message from the Board – October 2023

Dear Co-op Friends,

As you know from our summertime member-owner meetings, the Board is weighing two factors as we make our decision to move forward or not:  the member-owner advisory vote and member-owner’s organizational commitment. Unfortunately, we have not received enough applications for the four open Board of Directors seats. 

We need you! Please join our team. You can check out the current Board of Directors here. As community-minded individuals across the spectrum of life stages, our board members lead busy lives, just like you. Continue reading

Waverly Farmers Market

The Rooted Carrot Co-op Membership team shared the co-op story at the Waverly Farmers Market on September 9th. It was an engaging crowd, and we met many people who enthusiastically support local growers & makers. We also had people interested in learning more about being a vendor once the store opens!

Our next market tabling event is the Waterloo Urban Farmer’s Market on October 7th from 8:00 to noon at the RiverLoop Expo Plaza. Stop by the booth to pick up a yard sign or cards to share with friends, visit with the Membership team, and spin the wheel for prizes!

Message from the Board – September 2023

Thank you to everyone who attended the Special Member-Owner meetings in July and August. We appreciate the number of people who could attend and who were engaged and supportive.

We communicated the member-owner meetings through our Mailchimp database, social media, Garlic Press newsletter, and sent postcards to everyone. If you have not received communications from the Co-op in the past six months please send your updated email and mailing address to info@rootedcarrot.coop. Please note it is the member-owner’s responsibility to update their contact information with the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market. 

We are actively seeking member-owners to run for the Board of Directors. The application is open and you can find more information here. Board of Directors are a key piece to the Rooted Carrot Co-op organization and are the governing body of our Co-op. The Board is responsible for ensuring organizational performance on behalf of all of the Co-op’s owners. Currently, the work of the Board of Directors is geared towards establishing a physical store. Once established, the work will shift to developing clearly stated expectations for the General Manager. 

Check out our calendar of events for important dates regarding the future of our Co-op.

Jodie Huegerich,
President, Board of Directors

Core Organization Meeting

Rooted Carrot Co-op Market Core Organization Meeting is Wednesday, September 6th at 6:30 pm. It will be held at the River Place Co-working Space (formerly known as Gravitate Co-working Space). This location is downtown Cedar Falls above Urban Pie. There will be people to greet you when you reach the 2nd floor.

We need more member-owners involved in the core organization to help us accomplish our goal of opening a full-service grocery store. Over the past few years, the number of people interested in being on the Board of Directors and actively participating in committee work has decreased significantly.

Attend this meeting to learn how you can get involved!

Co-op Membership/Communications Team at Fall Farmers Markets

The Membership Team will be at the Waverly Farmers Market on September 9 and at the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market on October 7. Stop by to say hello! Kids can spin the wheel for prizes and member-owners can pick up a yard sign or sticker to show their co-op support. We love to meet new co-op friends and to share our enthusiasm for the Rooted Carrot Co-op!

Waverly Farmers Market: September 9, 8:30-noon | 1st St. SW (along the Cedar River)

Waterloo Urban Farmers Market: October 7, 8:00-noon | RiverLoop Expo Plaza (460 Jefferson)