Did you know that food co-ops work collaboratively to accomplish good things for our communities? We’ve achieved lower prices on groceries (shout out, Co+op Deals), and we also share ideas and work together on common causes. Through our national cooperative, National Co+op Grocers, independently owned food co-ops are able to scale up the positive aspects of cooperation in ways that benefit our stores, people and the planet while retaining the strength of our community roots.
Just like our members have a voice and can vote to help shape our food co-op, our engagement in our national cooperative reflects the values and commitments our communities have in common. One example is how our national cooperative takes responsibility for its climate impact by offsetting emissions, with over 10,000 metric tons of carbon offset since 2012. Currently, National Co+op Grocers offsets carbon emissions through a partnership with ReSeed, a credible, socially responsible public benefit corporation.
Values-Aligned Climate Action Supports Family Farms
ReSeed has a certified, socially responsible business model in an industry where regulation is not guaranteed. They support farmers who are the most affected by and vulnerable to climate disruption and those with the most potential to create a positive impact toward climate adaptation and mitigation. Working primarily with smallholder (family) farms in Brazil, ReSeed uses technology to lower the costs typically associated with carbon projects, making them both technically and financially feasible for the farmers they work with.
ReSeed turns verified farm carbon storage into credits that our national cooperative buys to offset emissions from staff travel, office utilities, remote work and member food co-op staff’s travel and meals for professional development opportunities. It’s one way food co-ops' shared commitment to reducing environmental impact is maintained further up our supply chain.
In 2025, National Co+op Grocers offset 1,000 metric tons of carbon with ReSeed. These emissions were offset by purchasing credits from farmers in the Quilombola (kee-lon-boo-luh) community in the Curiau (koo-ree-ow) region of Brazil. ReSeed pays and incentivizes these farmers to maintain the regenerative, climate-friendly practices they’ve used for generations.
Why Brazil?
The Curiau region is at the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. This coastal region serves as a massive natural shield against global warming and has a direct impact on changing weather patterns that affect our local communities and supply chain resilience here in the United States.
Known as a blue carbon sink, this unique coastal wetland ecosystem pulls carbon out of the atmosphere about ten times faster than tropical forests and stores three to five times more carbon per acre than tropical forests.
Like many communities in Brazil, the Quilombola community is at real risk of displacement from development and large-scale conventional agriculture. As recently as last year, community members here faced eviction actions and expropriation notices on their legally titled land. Without these farmers living on the land and practicing their traditional way of life, this globally important carbon sink could easily be lost forever.
ReSeed has published helpful information about this project and the community it supports; check it out here.
Cooperating for a Greener Future
The climate crisis is an existential problem that impacts all of us: shoppers, businesses, supply chains and communities. Thanks for choosing to shop at your local food co-op — it’s a great example of how the everyday choices we make can ladder up to make a big difference!
