Dear Owners,
As June comes to a close, the Board would like to reiterate how grateful we are for our staff members, without whom the cooperative would cease to function. As owners, you are all stewards of this little gem of a food co-op. Your owner’s shares, purchases, and donations help keep the lights on, pay staff wages and healthcare, giving us more hope to carry on in the endeavour of economic stability and preserving the local food system for the next generation. We know that we’re already asking for a lot, but if you have room to give a little bit more, we’re seeking owner testimonials to post on our website, social media, and of course donation platforms. These owner testimonials will also be featured in our business plan to showcase the credibility that we have within the community. If interested, please click the button below to email us your testimonial.
Upcoming Events:
● Cooperatives Under Capitalism – TODAY, June 30th, 5pm, Isla Vista Food Co-op Patio
● Co-op Support Market, Featuring IV Small Artist Co-op – July 12th, 11am -5pm, Downtown Market
● NEW – Coffee with Community (Weekly Recurring) – July 13th, 10am – 12pm, Downtown Market
● Board of Directors Meeting, July 16th, 6:30pm, Zoom
● Co-op Support Market, Featuring AllBookedUp SB and IV Small Artist Co-op – July 19th, 11am-5pm
● Meet the IVFC Board Candidates, July 19th, details tbd
● Town Hall: Business Plan – July 26th, 2pm, location TBD
Recipe Contest
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
NOMINATE the Downtown Market FOR BEST OF SANTA BARBARA
Last year the IVFC Downtown Market won runner up in Best Corner Store.
Please take a moment to nominate the Isla Vista Food Co-op’s Downtown Market or IV store in the Independent’s 2025 Best of Santa Barbara poll. Nominations are open until July 2nd, and we’d be honored to have your support once again!
Simply head to the link below and write in “Isla Vista Food Co-op” or “IVFC Downtown Market”
under the Eating section categories such as :
● breakfast
● breakfast burrito
● burger
● corner store
● gluten-free options
● gourmet grocer
● health food/nutrition store
● Isla Vista restaurant
● place to buy bread
● produce stand/greengrocer
● sandwich
● takeout
● vegan options
● vegetarian option
** Remember to nominate in at least 20 different categories for your votes to count! Take some
time to nominate your other faves too!
https://bestof.independent.com
Tiger Team Updates: What’s New This Week?
Thank you to everyone who’s stepped up to support the Co-op during this critical time. Your
energy, time, and creativity are making a real difference.
Here’s what’s happening across our Tiger Teams:
● Tiger Team Placeholder: Oh wow tiger team so cool
● Tiger Team Placeholder: Oh wow tiger team even cooler
Fundraising & the 2025 Business Recovery Plan: Our Top Priority
Fundraising remains our most urgent need. We’re incredibly grateful to our owners, staff, and community who have contributed money, time, and expertise to help stabilize the Co-op. Since our last town hall, the Board’s main focus has been on finalizing the 2025 Business Recovery Plan — our roadmap to keep the Co-op from insolvency and build a more sustainable future. We look forward to presenting it to the ownership soon.
Mark your calendar for our next Town Hall on Saturday, July 26 from 2–5 PM.
Once we’ve launched the business plan and secured more financial footing, all the Tiger Teams will be ready to fully activate. In the meantime, email the board with any questions, comments,
or exclamations you may have.
Keep Building Momentum:
● Shop at the co-op – every purchase counts – and encourage your networks to do so, too. Summertime in IV means lots of parking!
● Make a donation to our GoFundMe of any amount – every bit helps
● Donate through our website: https://islavistafood.coop/save-the-coop/
● Make a tax-deductible contribution of $500 or more – Please contact treasurer@islavistafood.coop for more details.
● Share your network – Reply to this email with 3–5 contacts who might donate or support.
● Connect us with like-minded businesses – We’re eager to form business-to-business partnerships that strengthen both our local economy and our community.
● Join a Tiger Team– Help expand our efforts and bring fresh ideas.
Notes From The Ground:
The Board is finalizing in FAQ that addresses the current state of our organization and looks
towards the beginnings of our future. We hope to have it on the website by the posting of the July 7th bulletin.
Updating Your Information with IVFC has never been easier! Make an account in our
webcart portal to update your address, phone, and email. All you need is your owner number.
Isla Vista Store Summer Hours:
Sunday: 12pm-7pm
Monday: 12pm-7pm
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: 9am-7pm
Thursday 12pm-7pm
Friday: 12pm-7pm
Saturday: 12pm-7pm
Downtown Market Hours:
7am-8pm daily (deli open 7am-3pm)
Thanks for Your Continued Support
The commitment and passion of this co-op community continue to inspire the team towards improving the cooperative for all.
In pursuit of a thriving cooperative,
Your Board of Directors
