A food co-op is a grocery store that’s owned and democratically controlled by its members, who are also typically the shoppers. Unlike traditional grocery stores, co-ops prioritize community involvement, often sourcing local products and prioritizing ethical and sustainable practices. 
The U.N. designated 2025 as the “International Year of Cooperatives” underscoring the vital role cooperatives play in sustainable development. This year’s theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World” emphasizes the enduring global impact of cooperatives, positioning them as essential solutions to today’s global challenges. It highlights their contributions to sustainable development across social, economic, and environmental dimensions, showing how cooperatives are key drivers in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The theme also emphasizes the unique ability of cooperatives to foster inclusive growth and strengthen community resilience.

Kirsha Dudenhausen (left) is the General Manager of the Chatham Marketplace, a food co-op in Pittsboro, NC where she’s worked since 2021. Working at The Chatham Marketplace means Kirsha can make a difference in her community by helping to provide access to fresh, local goods while supporting regional farmers and other producers. Kirsha celebrates working in a place where she shares common values with employees and customers. Kirsha and her family have lived in Pittsboro since 2018.
Nicole Villano (right) is a Strategy and Development Manager for the National Cooperative of Grocers, a business service cooperative for retail food co-ops in the US. Prior to that she was the General Manager at Deep Roots Market in Greensboro, NC, where she still lives and works remotely. She earned an Anthropology degree from Appalachian State and is working on a Master’s in Sustainability at UNCG. Nicole also serves as Board President for Carolina Common Enterprise, a non-profit cooperative development agency. Nicole believes that food systems are unsustainable without cooperation and that local food economies are critical to our future.