Patronage Rebate

Owners Say Yes to Patronage Rebate

We are pleased to announce that Owners have decided to implement the Patronage Rebate System. 506 valid votes were cast, either via proxy or in person at OwnerFest. An impressive 84.6% of the 506 votes were cast in favor of the Patronage Rebate System. A 67% “yes” vote was needed in order to pass, a goal which was greatly surpassed. We thank everyone for their participation in the voting process and for exercising their rights and responsibilities to vote on such a significant change.

The new system will begin on January 1, 2009. At that time the daily discounts will be discontinued at the registers. Instead, we will begin tracking Owners’ daily sales at the registers for calculating patronage at the end of the fiscal year. This calculation will be used for determining a rebate when the Co-op is profitable. Please remember to show your Owner card to ensure your purchases will be tracked accurately. Also in 2009, we will be launching an improved Owner Appreciation Program that will be more equitable for Owners while being financially sustainable for the Co-op. With the approval of the PRS we are determining the best options and will have details in our January/February newsletter.

We’ll be adding more information as we near the transition date. Under the Patronage Rebate System we’ll be able to prove that sustainability applies not only to the farms we support but to our financial viability as well. Thanks for supporting your Co-op!

If you have any questions about the Patronage Rebate System please contact your Board of Directors at board@commonmarket.coop or the staff at cm@commonmarket.coop.