CCMA Conference Comes to Sacramento
The Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) Conference, coordinated by the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, is coming to Sacramento June 8-10.
The Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, along with BriarPatch Co-op, Davis Food Co-op and Pachamama Coffee Cooperative will be cohosting this conference, which brings together board members, co-op management and others supporting our cooperative businesses from all over the country. These co-op leaders will spend several days together sharing with, and learning from our peers, as well as engaging some keynote speakers.
2023 THEME: COOPERATIVE VITALITY: RECONNECTION AND RESILIENCE
Each year the CCMA planning committee brainstorms themes for the conference, usually focused on the host city. Sacramento has several identities, but the one that was chosen as most reflective of the cooperative community is the nickname, “City of Trees.” Sacramento’s tree canopy is thick with hundreds of diverse species that together cover nearly a quarter of the urban landscape. Trees are critical to the health of a community and our planet and an indispensable part of mitigating climate change and biodiversity collapse. Forest ecosystems are regenerative, and they work in harmony.
For the last century, the cooperative movement has used two pine trees (twin pines) as an emblem to symbolize the power and promise of cooperation. The pine tree is an ancient symbol of endurance. The two trees together represent the strength in mutual cooperation—people helping people. Deeply rooted local institutions, such as our cooperatives, are an essential element of thriving, diverse communities. CCMA 2023 will shed light on the many ways cooperatives, like forests, foster connection, regeneration, and community vitality.
Several of our Co-op Board members and many of our leadership team will be attending the conference, volunteering, presenting, and serving as hosts to our cooperative community. We are so happy that this conference finally returns to our city after more than 20 years – a lot has changed in that time! Our co-op is one of the few things in Sacramento that has remained constant, and we are so happy to be hosting our larger co-op community here in our vibrant city.
Some highlights of the conference include Keynote Sessions with industry leaders and visionaries, as well as a program of breakout sessions presented by a diverse group of cooperators from across our sector.
The Future of Grocery: How Co-ops Can Adapt and Compete with Errol Schweizer “the Grocery Nerd”, Host of The Checkout Podcast
The world of grocery is ever-changing and the last several years have given the industry whiplash with a completely new set of challenges. Some are shaped by macroeconomic factors like sector consolidation, supply chain issues, and profit-driven inflation, while others stem from evolving customer preferences and significant shocks to the labor market. In this session, Errol Schweizer will share his perspective on how food cooperatives are positioned to compete in this volatile market.
Restorative Revolution: Transforming the Food System in California
This session will feature visionaries who are working to build a more equitable, just, and sustainable food and agriculture system in California. They will share their stories of transforming food systems in the face of daunting structural and societal obstacles.
David Benson, Produce Manager, BriarPatch Food Co-op
Adrionna Fike, former member from Mandela Grocery Cooperative
Chanowk Yisrael, Founder, Yisrael Farms
Javier Zamora, Owner, JSM Organics
A Revolutionary Cafe
This breakout session will be presented by SNFC and Pachamama leaders who will share the process of forming a partnership around a big idea and the realities of opening up a business within a business and talk about the benefits and challenges of such an endeavor.
Managing Operations Next Level
This is another session presented by Co-op staff, led by veteran staff trainer, Stephanie Merriman. This session will cover our Co-op’s process of training and coaching to level up the strength of operations.
We look forward to sharing Sacramento’s expression of the Co-op Principles with folks who share the same vision and principles in their own communities. Our Co-op is proud to cohost this important conference and to show off not only our fabulous store but also our dynamic and vibrant city.
https://ccma.coop/
https://ccma.coop/planning-committee/
https://ccma.coop/uw-center-for-cooperatives/
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