PCC Natural Markets
Encyclopedia
PCC Natural Markets is a food cooperative
based in Seattle, Washington
. With over 45,000 members, it is the largest consumer-owned food cooperative in the United States.. Both members and non-members may shop at the retail locations, but members receive certain discounts. The organization currently operates nine retail locations. Five of the nine stores are located in Seattle (in the Fremont
, Green Lake
, Seward Park
, View Ridge
and West Seattle
neighborhoods). The other four are located in Issaquah
, Kirkland
, and Redmond
, and Edmonds
.
PCC was started in 1953 and continues to function member-owned and operated. The members govern through established bylaws and yearly elect a Board of Trustees who represent the interests of the members. Like other grocery cooperatives, the profits from the retail store operations go directly back into the stores or to the community (through classes, education or charitable efforts).
Current PCC programs include:
. In 1978, Capitol Hill Co-op dissolved for financial reasons and, in keeping with the principle that co-operatives cooperate with other cooperatives, PCC agreed to provide technical and financial assistance for the Central Co-Op to replace it.
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
based in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. With over 45,000 members, it is the largest consumer-owned food cooperative in the United States.. Both members and non-members may shop at the retail locations, but members receive certain discounts. The organization currently operates nine retail locations. Five of the nine stores are located in Seattle (in the Fremont
Fremont, Seattle, Washington
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Originally a separate city, it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. Named after Fremont, Nebraska, the hometown of two of its founders, L. H. Griffith and E...
, Green Lake
Green Lake, Seattle, Washington
Green Lake is a neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington, USA. Its centerpiece is the lake and park after which it is named.Its generally accepted boundaries are Interstate 5 to the east, beyond which lie Roosevelt and Maple Leaf; N 85th Street to the north, beyond which lies the...
, Seward Park
Seward Park, Seattle, Washington
Seward Park is a neighborhood in southeast Seattle, Washington just west of the park of the same name. The park itself occupies all of Bailey Peninsula, a prominent, forested peninsula that juts into Lake Washington...
, View Ridge
View Ridge, Seattle, Washington
View Ridge is a neighborhood in north Seattle, Washington. As with all Seattle neighborhoods, its boundaries are not fixed, but can be thought of as NE 65th Street in the south, 40th and 45th Avenues NE in the west, the Sand Point Country Club in the north, and Sand Point Way NE in the east. Many...
and West Seattle
West Seattle, Seattle, Washington
West Seattle comprises two of Seattle, Washington's thirteen districts, Delridge and Southwest and encompasses all of Seattle west of the Duwamish River. It was incorporated as an independent town in 1902 and was annexed by Seattle in 1907. Among the area's attractions are its saltwater beach parks...
neighborhoods). The other four are located in Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
, Kirkland
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
, and Redmond
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
, and Edmonds
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
.
PCC was started in 1953 and continues to function member-owned and operated. The members govern through established bylaws and yearly elect a Board of Trustees who represent the interests of the members. Like other grocery cooperatives, the profits from the retail store operations go directly back into the stores or to the community (through classes, education or charitable efforts).
Current PCC programs include:
- PCC Sound Consumer newspaper
- PCC Cooks classes
- PCC Farmland Trust, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to sustainableSustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
organic farmingOrganic farmingOrganic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
Relationship with Madison Market
PCC has a supporting relationship with Central Co-op's Madison Market, a grocery co-op on Capitol HillCapitol Hill, Seattle, Washington
Capitol Hill is the most densely populated residential district in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the center of the city's gay and counterculture communities, and is one of the city's most prominent nightlife and entertainment districts....
. In 1978, Capitol Hill Co-op dissolved for financial reasons and, in keeping with the principle that co-operatives cooperate with other cooperatives, PCC agreed to provide technical and financial assistance for the Central Co-Op to replace it.