The Franklin Community Co-op plans to vote at its board of directors meeting Wednesday evening on a proposed expansion project involving the acquisition of the Atlas Farm store in South Deerfield.
“We’re hoping that we can arrive at a decision that benefits both of our organizations,” said Sarah Kanabay, outreach and communications manager for the cooperative, “and furthers our shared goals of continuing to expand our ability to provide local food to the local area, along with local jobs; and helping to further strengthen the local food system and food economy.”
Any co-operative member in attendance at the meeting — which will be held virtually via Zoom — will be eligible to vote on the proposal.
Kanabay said Atlas Farm owner Gideon Porth approached the Franklin Community Co-op about the potential partnership. Efforts to reach Porth on Monday were unsuccessful.
According to a recent presentation by Franklin Community Co-op General Manager John Williams to owner-members — which can be accessed at franklincommunity.coop — the cooperative is proposing that Atlas Farm on Greenfield Road close its farm store business, allowing the cooperative to open a new, identical store to the one currently in operation. Atlas Farm would retain ownership of the property and lease the building. Additionally, the cooperative would purchase the equipment and retain current staff.
Earlier this summer, members were given an opportunity to respond to a survey on the proposal. According to survey results, which 82 people responded to, members were receptive to the “low-risk” nature of the expansion project, and expressed excitement over the partnership between the two organizations.
Some concerns included whether this expansion might detract from others — namely conversations on the proposed expansion of Green Fields Market into the former Wilson’s Department Store — and whether the offerings at Atlas Farm would degrade in quality under cooperative management.
If supported by members, and negotiations are successful, the Atlas Farm shop would be the third store for the co-op, which currently owns and operates Green Fields Market on Main Street in Greenfield and McCusker’s Market in Shelburne Falls.
“It’s very much a mutually beneficial relationship with Atlas Farm,” Kanabay said. “We see our mission and businesses are very much in alignment with one another and are supportive of one another’s food advocacy.”