So you are interested in buying fresh in-season organic produce and goods at wholesale prices but want to know the finer details... Well continue reading below and then register with us.

 

Are you wondering how the co-op works, and how it will save you money?

Becoming a member of the North Shore Organics co-op gains you access to the freshest local (when available) organic produce without the grocery store mark-up.

 

Membership fee

To become a new member there is an annual non-refundable NZ$20 fee (which helps cover running expenses and is subject to change). After that, you only pay for the orders you place. This fee must be paid before placing your first order.  Membership fees are paid on 4th April annually into the Coop Bank Account 03-01230007579-00. Your membership fee covers cost of consumables including paper, printer ink, etc. It also covers the cost of crate rental from the supplier, which the coop is reimbursed for when returned.

 

$2 Freight fee – this is added to your weekly order and the same fee is payable by each member however big or small your order.

 

Packing Tubs

Two packing tubs must be supplied to the coop before you place your first order; tubs are to be named with your first and last name.  Flexi Tubs are $6 from Kmart.  Your tub must be at the packing venue before each weeks pack and there is a $3 fee if packers have to organize a different bucket/box for you (spare buckets need to be returned ASAP)

 

Packing/Pickup Day

Packing and Pickup day will be on a Tuesday night (subject to change). Suppliers will deliver on Tuesday. Eggs and honey will be delivered on a Tuesday afternoon and supplied every second week only. A total of three members from the Coop will be required each packing day, one on the computer and two weighing produce and distributing it into member’s tubs. There is a NSO Roster spreadsheet on the NSO Google drive which you will need to fill out. You are required to help pack at least once per cycle, which is currently about once in every 10-12 weeks. There is a $20 fee payable to the co-op if you are not available to pack in any cycle.  The coop currently operates from 764 East Coast Road, and will change on a six monthly basis between suitable locations.

 

To make the co-op a success and work for everyone, we all get involved. This means we share the various responsibilities for running the co-op like updating price-lists and creating orders in our ManageMy.Coop system, as well as packing duties through a monthly roster amongst others. The coop is only as succesful as the members make it and get involved.

 

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

 

Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1995. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844.

 

1. VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP

 

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

 

2. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

 

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

 

3. MEMBERS' ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

 

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on the capital invested.

 

4. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

 

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the cooperative's autonomy.

 

5. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION

 

Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.

 

6. COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES

 

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

 

7. CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY

 

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.

 

Please visit the Register as a member page to email us to register.