Ownership Benefits

Although everyone is welcome to shop at Community Market, owners will receive special benefits, including, but not limited to:

As you can see, there are some real benefits to ownership. But there is also the benefit of being a part of a unique community. Being an owner means you support our mission of supporting our community's health and well-being and stimulating the local agricultural production of natural and organic foods by providing an economic outlet.

More Reasons To Become an Owner

  1. To have local, organic and healthy food available year round.
    • foods that are grown with low or no pesticides, free range animals and grass finished beef
    • small-scale farming improves soil and water
    • the closer the food, the less oil is used in packaging and transportation
  2. Money will stay in the community.
    • more money goes directly to the producer
    • profits go back into the store, the members or the community
    • a study by the Leopold Center in Ames states that an additional $302 million in sales and more than 4,000 jobs would be added to the Iowa economy if everyone ate their 5 servings of Iowa grown fruits and vegetables for just three months
  3. Networking, active community participation
    • any member in good standing can be a board member or be on an advisory committee
    • annual meetings allow you to meet other members
    • volunteer in other ways to support the store

Types of Investments

Patron Share

Non-Patron Investment Unit

$100 - good for the whole family $500 per share
  • one vote per share
  • eligible to sit on the Board or Advisory Committee
  • receive member only discounts,special and case order privileges
  • receive email updates and invitations to special interest area events
  • obtain a patronage dividend when the store is profitable
  • Patron Owners will always hold 60% of the collective vote
  • Allows owners and other Iowans to invest futher into the store. These shares increase capital without having to claim it as income.
  • receive one vote per share
  • no limit on unit purchases
  • only citizens in the state of Iowa may purchase Non-Patron Investment Units
  • collective vote shall never exceed 40%
  • Non-Patron Units may be purchased over time (i.e. $100 twice a year to reach $500)

Tax Deductible Donation
Because the M&M Divide/RC&D is acting as our fiscal agent, you can make a tax deductible donation to the Community Market Cooperative. M&M Divide is a 501(c)3 federal organization. Please contact them directly at 712-792-4415 or print an applicaton from our site.