“Spring flew swiftly by, and summer came; and if the village had been beautiful at first, it was now in the full glow and luxuriance of its richness. The great trees, which had looked shrunken and bare in the earlier months, had now burst into strong life and health.” -Charles Dickens

Things are heating up at your locally owned community co-op!  We are heading into the summer months, our busiest time of year, and the town is already buzzing with visitors. Whether you are part of Belfast’s year-round community, a traveler stopping in on your way to other destinations, or one of our community's seasonal residents, I’m so pleased that you have chosen to make BCC part of your summer adventure.  

This summer, we begin celebrating the Co-op’s 50 years in our community.   50 years of putting locally grown food on the table. 50 years of democratic control and owner economic participation.  50 years of caring for and delighting our neighbors.  50 years of growing the cooperative economy and creating a more just food system. 

On August 22, we are gathering at the waterfront for a community celebration honoring five decades of cooperation.  We hope to see you there!  If you’d like to learn more or get involved, visit our website.

Despite the economic hardship we are all facing, our Co-op shoppers continue to show up in support of their neighbors with remarkable generosity.  On May 15, our community was devastated by a massive fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. The Co-op immediately donated $5,000 to Maine Strong Memorial Foundation’s Emergency Fund to help those impacted by the tragedy.

We began accepting customer donations at the register and we pledged to donate an additional $2,500.  Together, customer donations and the Co-op's contributions have generated over $9,000 in support for those impacted by the fire. Thank you to everyone who has helped support our community during this difficult time.

In addition to this crisis response, our Common Cents donations have already distributed $32,649.75 this year between six local groups. Our most recent donation was to Niweskok, for an amazing $7,302.14!  This month, we're rounding up for Waldo County Woodshed and accepting nominations for 2027 Common Cents!

Our Prepared Foods department is working hard to keep the Belfast community well fed every day. Our grab-and-go menu is evolving to better reflect our commitment to quality, affordability, local sourcing, seasonality, and innovation.

As food costs continue to rise, we've made changes that help keep prices accessible while offering products to meet our customers' requests. Many of our sandwiches are now made with locally baked Borealis Breads baguettes, creating a heartier sandwich that supports a Maine producer. We're also expanding our wrap selection, offering a more affordable option that showcases fresh vegetables and flavorful proteins.

Alongside Co-op Made lunch staples like turkey, egg salad, and curry mango chicken salad, you'll find new seasonal recipes featuring locally grown ingredients and a variety of dietary options including wheat-free and plant-based choices.    

Co-op parking in the summer is always a challenge.  Our priority has always been customer safety and accessibility, but with the influx of summer visitors, combined with the propensity for folks to park in our lot and go elsewhere, managing the parking lot has become a recurring seasonal headache.  This year, we are being proactive.  In addition to restriping the lot, we will be installing new signage throughout, identifying the lot as co-op parking only, and more clearly marking the entrance and exit from High Street.  We are also working with the city to more clearly identify Pendleton Lane as a one-way street to prevent folks from exiting the lot in the wrong direction. 

My ask of you, loyal BCC shoppers, is to please refrain from parking in the Co-op parking lot to do all of your downtown shopping.   I know it takes a few extra minutes to move your vehicle to one of the municipal spaces after you are done with your Co-op shop, but it makes a huge difference for the other folks who are trying to get groceries. I appreciate the help!

The beginning of summer is also the beginning of the final quarter of our fiscal year, traditionally our most successful financial quarter.  We are sticking close to the budget and hopefully will exceed expectations, but summer is sometimes unpredictable and the economic climate right now makes it hard to feel confident about predictions. As it stands, everything looks good and we are poised to have the most successful annual sales in our 50 year history.   No matter what unfolds, we will remain here to serve you, our community.

To that end, and as part of our ongoing business planning, we are conducting a Belfast Community Co-op Shopper Survey. Some of you have already received an email invitation. If you haven't yet had a chance to participate, we hope you'll take a few minutes to share your feedback with us by July 6.

Our last full shopper survey was completed in 2021, and a lot has changed since then. Your input will help guide our planning and ensure we're meeting the evolving needs of our community in the years ahead.

Summer is here, and with it comes everything worth celebrating. Fresh local produce, picking up something good to throw on the grill, a local craft brew from a brewery you’ve never heard of, neighbors catching up in the aisles, and that special something that makes Belfast shine. No matter if you are a first-time visitor just discovering BCC or a longtime owner loading up for a summer full of adventures, we're so glad you're here.

The Co-op has always been more than a store, it's where our community comes together, season after season, for the past 50 years.  Thank you for making us a part of this magical time of year.

Here's to a delicious summer. See you in the aisles.

-Doug 

Doug Johnson
BCC General Manager

doug@belfast.coop