Owner Sale DaysOwners who are current on their share payments are allowed one 10% discount day of their choosing every month. This discount includes all purchases, with the exception of sale items and things like admission to Co-op classes and events, postage stamps, or gift cards. Other discounts aren’t combinable with Owner Sale Day, such as case discounts or coupons for a percentage off the total. This benefit pays back the cost of an Owner share before you know it!

A Vote, A Voice Each Owner gets an equal vote. Co-op Owners elect our Board of Directors, vote on referendums, and choose our Beans for Bags donation recipients. As an Owner, you can also run for the Board and help shape the future of the Co-op.

Patronage Dividends Determined by the Board and distributed as profitability warrants, these are the return of net annual savings from sales to Owners. Individual amounts vary; the more you shop, the more you get!

Owner-Worker ShiftsAs they are made available, Owners may apply for Owner-Worker shifts at First Alternative. This is an opportunity to contribute to your Co-op, assisting store operations with a two-hour shift per week. Check with Customer Service for details.

It’s Fully Refundable! Should you choose to cash out your equity at any time, you will be paid the full amount of your share payment, whether you’ve invested $70 or $300, in accordance with our bylaws and withdrawal policy.

Benefits of Co-op Ownership

The original Co-op house.

First Alternative was founded as a buying club in 1970 by Corvallis residents and OSU students who wanted to create a local source for high quality, nutritious foods at the lowest possible prices. From its modest beginnings in a tiny house on 4th Street, the Co-op became a place to share information about community living and healthy lifestyles. The Co-op now has two locations and around 10,000 Owners. It is overseen by a Board

of Directors that works with the General Manager through Policy Governance. Board members are elected annually by Co-op Owners.

Our Cooperative Mission

• We seek to honor our traditions and build upon our potential.

• We are committed to cultivating tolerance and diversity in our operations.

• We strive for excellence in our products and services, including wholesome organic foods, innovative education and community outreach, and high-quality, local, organic and minimally packaged products whenever possible.

• We act ethically and appropriately in our pricing practices.

• We seek to provide a democratic business climate, fostering worker and owner participation, according to cooperative principles.

First Alternative is a community market aspiring to be a cooperative model, providing high quality natural and organic products in a community oriented store and a model for

environmental sustainability through our purchasing and workplace practices.

Fresh · Local · Organic Groceries for Everyone

Welcome

It’s simple, just come to the Customer Service Desk at either store and fill out a short application. Choose a payment plan that works for you. Three payment options are available:

Pay in full: A payment of $70 buys your share. You are also welcome to invest up to an additional $230 in your share, which provides the Co-op with further capital and is also refundable in accordance with our bylaws and withdrawal policy.

Pay monthly: $20 down activates your share. After that, make 5 payments of $10 per month.

Low income plan: For the limited budget, opt to pay $10 down and $5 per month for 12 months. Eligibility is based on Oregon Trail and WIC income guidelines.

Co-op Owners are invested in a community-owned, environmentally and socially focused business, and so much more!

North Corvallis29th & Grant(541) 452-3115

South Corvallis1007 SE 3rd(541) 753-3115

Open daily 7am-10pmwww.firstalt.coop @firstaltcoop

Become a Co-op Owner Today

For every reusable container or tote you use on your shop, take one “bean” token.

Choose the local organization you wish to support by putting the token(s) in their jar. Every quarter, the tokens are tallied and turned into donations!

Community Outreach Look for us at community events handing out free samples and educating the community about local and organic food, health, and sustainability.

School Donations Co-op Owners can tie their Owner share to a particular school, registering their purchases in support of it. The greater the amount tallied for each school, the more funds will be donated to it.

The goal of Co-op Community events is to connect Co-op

Owners with each other, staff, and the Board of Directors in social and community service-based settings. Activities include trips to farms and local businesses, community service, and other activities.

Low Income DiscountSave 5% at the register by applying for a low income discount card if you are at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Apply at Customer Service.

WIC & SNAP WIC certified and gladly accepting SNAP and Oregon Trail.

Case DiscountsTake 10% off* when you special order a case! Case sizes vary so check with Customer Service to learn more. *Case discount does not apply to sale items, and may not be used in conjunction with Owner Sale Day Discount

Budget BitesOur budget-minded meal plans provide a week’s worth of great meals that won’t break the bank. Find printed meal plans with included shopping lists in the store and visit www.firstalt.coop for even more Budget Bites menus.

Alternative Transport CardWe offer a punch for shoppers biking, walking, or using public transit who spend over $10. Once the card is full, it becomes a $5 off coupon. And every month we draw one redeemed card for a free bike tune-up. Ask for a card today!

Co-op Deals & Fresh FlyerAnyone can shop at the Co-op and everyone saves, thanks to our weekly Fresh Flyer and twice-monthly Co-op Deals sales flyers. Great savings on fresh, local, organic favorites and trusted national brands!

Groceries You Can TrustOur Product Selection Guidelines prioritize fresh, local, and organic groceries made with the best ingredients, so that’s what you’ll f ind at the Co-op. We aim to make shopping for natural and organic groceries easy and affordable for everyone, from Co-op Owners to out-of-towners.

Bulk ShoppingGet as little or as much as you need with our extensive bulk selection. We offer over 750 items in bulk including herbs and spices, baking ingredients, cooking oils, condiments, gourmet salts, local frozen fruits and veggies, earth-friendly cleaners, body care products, pet food, and more.

Organic ProduceFind fresh, organic produce year-round, purchased from as many local and regional growers as possible. Look for Local Direct tags for the freshest in farm-direct produce. We also offer locally-grown flower bouquets, in-season garden starts, seeds, and more!

Health and WellnessWe have supplements from A to Z, homeopathic and herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and nutraceuticals for all your health needs. And an extensive bulk selection provides everything you need to make your own health and bodycare!

Co-op Kitchen and DeliOur deli offers delicious foods fit for any appetite, prepared in-house. Seasonal soups, salads, entrees, sandwiches, spreads, pastries and desserts—no matter what you’re craving, you will find it in our amazing Deli. The Co-op Kitchen takes special orders, too. Grab a copy of the Co-op Kitchen Special Order Brochure for available items.

Wine and BeerQuench your thirst with our wide variety of beers and fine wines, including a huge selection of local beverages. See a new beer or cider you’d like to try? You can always mix-and-match six packs at no extra cost! Wine lovers, purchase any 12 bottles of wine and receive a 10% discount.

Fair Trade ProductsFair Trade certifications ensure that producers and growers in the developing world aren’t subjected to inhumane conditions or inadequate compensation. Buy with confidence while empowering workers half a world away. We only sell source-verified chocolate from our suppliers to assure that we are not supporting human rights violations.

Meeting Specialty DietsGluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, paleo—it’s our goal have something for every shopper and every diet. Our Co-op Kitchen also works to meet the needs of hungry people with vegan, vegetarian, and wheat-free options every day!

Humanely Raised MeatsThe Co-op is your source for hormone- and antibiotic-free meats. We carry free range or pasture raised beef, poultry, lamb, and pork purchased primarily from local farmers. The Co-op is proud to only sell 100% grass fed beef!

Healthy HomeWe offer eco-friendly cleansers, recycled paper products and glassware, and a wide selection of natural pet foods. We also offer many household cleaners in bulk—so you can skip the extra packaging waste.

Ways to Save

Local Products When we say local, we mean it. Look for these three local designations: Local 6: Groceries from the six counties closest to home—Benton, Linn, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Polk. Local Direct: Groceries delivered directly to the Co-op by the growers or producers. Local Oregon: Groceries that were born and raised here in the Co-op’s home state of Oregon.