Sierra Vista Food Co-op: Good Food, Local Roots
The Sierra Vista Food Co-op is more than a place to grab groceries—it’s a community-owned store where everyone is welcome.
Sierra Vista Food Co-op Board Member Monica Savarese was a special guest on First Watch visit on 92.3 KWCD. Monica explained that membership is really “more like an ownership.”
Being a member supports the shop, but she stressed that everyone is invited to shop there, even if you’re not a member. “Anyone,” she said, “can stop in for a snack, a specialty item, or a cart full of groceries.”
A Brief History of the Sierra Vista Food Co-op
The Sierra Vista Food Co-op serves Sierra Vista and all of Cochise County. According to the Sierra Vista Food Co-op website, the little local grocery was founded in May 2007 and opened its doors in April 2011.
It’s organized as a consumer co-op. That means the people who purchase goods and services from the co-op also own the co-op, which keeps profits in our community, rather than a nameless, faceless corporation. Local decisions maximize the service to their members and the Sierra Vista community.
Local Food, Local People
It’s difficult to find local farm-to-table produce and cottage goods in Cochise County. According to Monica, the Sierra Vista Food Co-op is one of only two active food co-ops in Arizona. There’s one in Tucson, and another has been working toward opening in Phoenix, but it’s been a long process.
For anyone looking for organic, non-GMO, local, and specialty foods, the Sierra Vista Food Co-op is the perfect place. Monica said the store’s purpose is simple: make sure the community has access to “healthy food to support your health journey.”
Shelves include produce, grains, pasta, cheeses, non-dairy and vegan options, bulk herbs and spices, local coffee, artisan goods, and foods for special diets, like gluten-free, keto, vegan, plant-based, and other health needs.
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Why Shopping There Matters
The co-op isn’t a giant, sterile warehouse. It’s a local nook with a little bit of everything, carrying items important to our community but often difficult to find elsewhere.
Shopping at the co-op is like voting with your dollars; it keeps more money circulating close to home. Monica told First Watch that the store buys locally when possible and gives local vendors the strongest margin it can for their locally grown and locally made items.
They do their best to give local vendors “the biggest margin possible” on their goods. That means a purchase helps support nearby farmers, ranchers, makers, and small businesses.
Member Discounts
The co-op offers regular member discounts. A few include 20% off special orders, a 10% Wellness Wednesday discount, and a 15% discount on Customer Appreciation Days, plus military and first responder discounts, and more.
The discounts don’t apply to locally sourced items from growers and vendors, but they apply to nearly everything else in the store.
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Healthy Choices, Friendly Help
What makes the co-op special is its neighborly feel. Monica summed it up best: “We’re here for you…whatever you need.”
Whether you are trying a pinch of bulk spice, ordering a case of gluten-free oats, or looking for better options for your health journey, the Sierra Vista Food Co-op makes healthy shopping feel personal.
You can learn more about the Sierra Vista Food Co-op on its website or Facebook page, or stop by 96 Carmichael Avenue in Sierra Vista.
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