Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Dear Editor:
The current crisis at the Natural Foods Co-op in Ukiah has been brewing for years. The Big Beautiful Remodel five years ago, especially the Big Cafe, was a big gamble by the then longtime General Manager (GM), and it is not paying off. Sales and membership have remained flat, while costs for labor and store operation have been rising. During the last year, the Co-op Board has hired —and lost — two new GMs.
Towards the end of April, a petition appeared on the bulletin board of the store, calling for a Special Member Meeting to discuss/vote on the removal of four of the nine board members and on changes to the bylaws, allowing more than one staff member to run for board seats. About a week later, a posting was added, telling members they can vote on the items in the store instead.
At the board meeting on May 18 (via Zoom), much was made about a proposal from some staff asking for “self-governance.” Upon research after the meeting, staff explained that the proposal was about decision-making among the department managers during the interim period without a GM, in essence an expansion of shared responsibilities that existed during the previous interim period.
Transparency is lacking by both the board and staff. The board has not been forthcoming about its procedures. For example, it would be helpful to understand the GM hiring process —without revealing any personal information. Board minutes are short, mislabeled, missing or lagging.
Last year’s minutes offer no clue when or whether the new GM — who started work in November — was approved by the full board; no minutes are posted for November ’25 or the first three months of this year.
No annual report for 2025 has been issued. No word on whether Co-op members will receive a dividend this year. No annual member meeting has been called for years. Party gatherings are not business meetings.
Coop staff need to figure out among themselves what they want and communicate it more clearly and openly to the board and the membership. Members should get more involved, even though participation has been discouraged over time, and suggestions have been routinely ignored.
At the last board meeting, the board seemed eager to put the past behind it. The board president briefly mentioned that the last GM had been “terminated” at the end of April, without giving any explanation or a hint of an apology that the hiring/firing might have been handled better, but felt it necessary to remind the listeners that board members are volunteers doing their best. Then he more or less volunteered three board members for the thankless task of finding a new GM.
During the public comment period (14 Co-op members attended, half of them staff), several staff members expressed frustration and lack of confidence, urging the board to give themselves and staff time to rethink, recover.
It will take a lot of goodwill and effort by all parties to sort out the grievances, work on transparency and rebuild trust.
This fall, applications for three upcoming openings on the board will be sought for next year’s seating.
Bruni Kobbe
Ukiah
Labor is likely the most expensive part of the business. I can see why an unpaid board is struggling because the truth is they need to lay some of the labor off, which happens to be the biggest voice of opposition in the organization….
You have no idea what your talking about. And employees are the biggest part of the opposition? How would you feel about the board unpaid or not, they knew it wasn’t paid going in. So that is a moot point. The board hired a pedophile. Yes only one charge on record but 4 total events. 4! Employees are not the problem, labor isn’t the problem. The lack of transparency is.
“At the board meeting on May 18 (via Zoom), much was made about a proposal from some staff asking for “self-governance.”
– If you worked anywhere else, this is when a ‘paid’ management team decides to restructure (i.e. lay off) some of the labor force to allow the business model to adapt to the changing environment.
If the COOP loses another GM in short order, we know where the problem lies, if it isn’t clear already.
Agreed and sad. Less overhead, downsize, and maybe some sort of buyers club?
COOP should lower its prices on essentials (like food). Luxury in this economy is not a thing.
So, you’re blaming the employees because they’re ‘the biggest voice of opposition’? Did it ever occur to you that the employees are justified in opposing the way the store is run?
The problems are with the board & the management, at all levels, that have created a toxic workplace environment of favoritism & abuse. It’s gone on for decades & now, it sounds like the employees are finally speaking up, after this GM pedo snafu.
As with many issues, it’s rarely those ‘lowest on the totem pole’ that are the problem. If any need to be laid off, it’s upper & middle management. They also need new board members that aren’t so set in their ways, afraid of new ideas & change.
Labor is the most expensive non fixed cost in a grocery store. If the COOP has flat sales or declining sales while the cost of business is rising, labor is the first thing that gets nipped in the bud. When this store can’t keep a GM for any meaningful amount of time, it is a red flag to future GMs considering to work at this COOP.
The coop needs one thing. Bring back Uncle Eddies Molasses cookies. Everything been downhill since those glorious cookies disappeared from the shelves.
Attitude. Never been back because of attitude of employees. Mariposa Market, Ralleys and Willits Grocery Outlet get my business. Great attitude.
Those that blame the employees for the Co-Op’s woes doesn’t know what they’re talking about. There has been problems with the management & the board for more than 20 years. I’m surprised it’s taken so long for the dysfunction to become a public embarrassment.
Make way for trader joes or sprouts.
This might as well be every company on earth lol! Human beings at their finest and most exposed. I hope the employees get their self governance. Power to the peaceful
“No annual report for 2025 has been issued. No word on whether Co-op members will receive a dividend this year. No annual member meeting has been called for years.”
As a member for over 10 years, and watching the quality of goods and services decline, staff turnover become frequent, I considered attending meetings, getting more involved. But the organization and system seem to have become less accessible. Wouldn’t call it a co-op at this point. We would be very sorry to see this store close. If board or management reached out to members there would be much support for returning Ukiah Natural Foods to its cooperative healthy state. As a member I shouldn’t have had to learn of the crisis in this news outlet.
Boomer board/co-op members need to step away from decision making. It’s time for an overhaul in government and leadership across all venues of leadership. There are very capable leaders that could help, but the stubborn can’t let go of “their way”
As a ‘boomer’, I agree. It’s a shame that so-called ‘Progressives’ behave in a very regressive manner, ‘set in their ways’ & refusing to accept new ideas.
Many people commenting are too quick to blame the employees.
The fault lies with the board & management, especially ‘Dept. Managers’, that favor ‘pet employees’, while abusing those that don’t go along. If workers seem to have ‘an attitude’, it’s likely because of abusive workplace conditions.
The GM & the board have ‘turned a blind eye’ to all of it for decades.
I feel the coop is a gem in our community. I am a member and shop there often. Like in many businesses, solid leadership and transparency is vital. Without these, a business loses its energy and soul. While I do not want to be on a board or a GM, it is paramount to the future of the coop to bring in an high energy leader with a vision. It will a pity if we as a community lose this treasure.
A gem for sure!!
The Co-op was great, Mendocino Counties insane weed laws pretty much destroyed the industry here. This caused a major exodus of the most of the customers and money that used to pour in. Not just to the Co-op but pretty much every single business in the county. I surely can’t afford to even get there much less buy any thing at this juncture even if I could get across the mountain. This is the new reality in Mendocino.
Nailed it…
I have been a co:op member for many years and in recent years have received very few, if any, notifications of meetings from the co:op. In the first years of my membership, members were urged to volunteer time to help out at the store. Now?? I will admit I am not as aware or involved as I shoud be. Outreach to members is crucial in order to encourage participation. This co:op is important to the community! I hope going forward communication improves in every aspect.
Rosaland Waters I really like the store a long time ago.🩷🌈 fortjones21@gmail.com
Would you all please stop trying to blame someone else for the woes of the Co-op? Would any other grocery store care about your complaints? You don’t have to shop there, and by the sound of it, we would all be better off if you didn’t.
The Co-op needs a board in order to survive. It has been years since enough people have applied to have a board election. If you want to run for the next open board position, go for it. Be prepared for a lot of work and harassment from the public. I probably won’t be voting for you myself.
For those who are still blaming the board for hiring a person you think is a convicted criminal after you saw a single posting on Facebook, there has been enough proof posted in these comments that they didn’t know about his 25-year-old police record due to employer statute-of-limitation laws. You can look it up yourself under CA employer hiring laws.
For the person who says that the board meetings are never announced, please go to the Co-op’s website and click on Board of Directors. If you can’t do that, just know that they meet every 3rd Monday at 5:30. What else do you want–have them call you personally?
The Co-op’s by-laws will give you an idea of what the hiring policy is. The board is also bound by state and federal laws and are part of a larger consortium of co-ops nationwide. Do some research if you really care that much. Find out what their policies are yourself before accusing them publicly of trying to hide information. It’s not their job to inform you of every detail of their work. They have enough to do.