About Us

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Mission Statement:

We are a member owned and operated consumer cooperative dedicated to providing natural and organic products and services that promote health awareness, a clean environment, and a strong community; at the lowest possible cost.

Rainbow supports the principles adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance

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Our Story

Rainbow Natural Grocery Cooperative, is a cooperative grocery, cafe, and deli, established in 1980 and democratically controlled. Rainbow is dedicated to providing high quality, wholesome foods at reasonable prices. Anyone can shop with us, member or non-member.   Membership is open to all.

We started out in 1980, and operated for many years as the Rainbow Whole Foods Cooperative Grocery. We changed to a consumer cooperative to better serve our members and the public, and our name change reflects this commitment to the principles on which we were founded.

Rainbow Natural Grocery Cooperative is governed by a Board of Directors elected by, and accountable to, its members.  Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the management and staff. All profits are returned to the store as capital/inventory improvements.  An email newsletter is published daily to keep members in touch with store happenings and to impart new information on natural living.   Everyone who shops at the store is encouraged to discuss concerns or suggestions with board members, staff, or management.

Through our purchase and sales policies, we seek to promote health and well-being for our members and the larger community by making available inexpensive, nutritional products that nourish the body and promote good stewardship of the earth's resources. The store emphasizes high quality, organic products (i.e. grown without agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers).

We also feature foods that are processed naturally (no artificial colors, flavors, or additives) and that make use of sweeteners and seasonings such as grain malts and syrups, honey, maple syrup, fruit juices, sea salt, herbs, and spices. Preference is given to producers and growers who demonstrate humane and ethical business practices.

These purchase policies not only intend to help ensure a safe, healthy food supply for everyone, but also to contribute to a cleaner environment with less ground water and air pollution. As well as buying form local growers whenever possible, Rainbow also supports local artists and craftspeople, citywide events including health fairs and WellsFest, and community efforts such as recycling that are beneficial to the environment.

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Owning A Share Of Rainbow When you purchase a $200 stock certificate in Rainbow Natural Grocery Cooperative, you are joining, as an equal, a community of your neighbors who share a vision of a healthier future. Becoming a shareholder is expressing your commitment to join with other like minds to create this healthier future for ourselves, those we care about, our greater community and our world. Rainbow's specific mission is to provide products and services that promote health awareness, a clean environment and a strong community and do this at the best price we can. How Rainbow Benefits: Your financial commitment, through your stock purchase, helps us accomplish this mission. As a cooperative of consumers, we are able to pool together our capital resources through these stock purchases. We can then use this capital to lower our costs and ensure reliable delivery of products and services. How You Benefit: The value of a share of Rainbow stock does not go up and down like the stock market. Your elected Board of Directors sets its value. After holding your certificate for at least a year, you can at any time sell your share back to the cooperative for the full $200 value. When we hold our two day quarterly Member Appreciation Days, everything you purchase will be given a 20% discount. (Annual members only get 10% off). Every month you can take 10% off your bill on a shopping trip of over $25. Every day you can take advantage of the special Member Staples pricing offered on over 300 common items throughout the store. You would be eligible for annual Patronage Rebates where you get a sum of money back each year based on the amount you purchased during the year You can purchase a Single annual membership for someone in your household at half price. At our annual shareholders meeting each fall you will have a vote on any and all resolutions as well as a vote for candidates for your Board of Directors. You can run as a candidate and serve on the Board of Directors. You will have access to special quarterly financial reports. You will receive a commemorative Rainbow Natural Grocery Cooperative tote bag made from recycled materials. How to Purchase Your Share of Stock: The customer service desk right across from the checkout counters can help you with purchasing your stock certificates as well as answer any questions you have. You can purchase your share with cash, check or credit card. We will need to see some identification. After purchasing your share you will immediately receive your stock certificate, a gold membership card, and a Rainbow tote bag. Your member benefits begin immediately. The whole process might take less than ten minutes. Caring For Your Stock Certificate To ever redeem your certificate you will have to make sure it does not get lost. Keep it in a safe place. Should the certificate get lost, stolen or otherwise destroyed, don' worry, there is a procedure to invalidate that certificate and issue a replacement. Your stock certificate cannot be sold, transferred or inherited. It can only be redeemed back to the cooperative. Being an Active Shareholder: Owning a share in Rainbow is an important way to support our health based mission, but it is not the only way: Shop at Rainbow as much as you can and help newer shoppers find what they need Promote the store by inviting others to shop and eat here Attend Board and Annual Meetings Read the Minutes of our meetings: www.rainbowcoop.org/meetingminutes.htm Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter:Rainbow E-News Read the message boards in the store Vote Consider being a candidate for the Board of Directors Share your ideas and observations with board members, Rainbow managers and staff

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Memberships

Rainbow Natural Grocery cooperative is owned by its members, yet everyone is welcome to shop at Rainbow and High Noon Cafe. Members get discounts by simply showing their valid membership card at the checkout. Non-members pay the already low retail shelf prices as marked on the product and are not eligible for the Member Staples/Specials deep discounts and other member/owner benefits. Memberships are not transferable.

RAINBOW NATURAL GROCERY MEMBERSHIPS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2010:

SINGLE
$25.00 per year / one card
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Eligible for Member Staples and Member Specials discounts
Quarterly 10% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Non-voting Membership

FAMILY
$40.00 per year / two cards per household
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Eligible for Member Staples and Member Specials discounts
Quarterly 10% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Non-voting Membership

SHAREHOLDER
$200.00 per share / one time purchase
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Member Staples and Member Specials
Quarterly 20% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Stock certificate may be redeemed for face value after at least one year of ownership
Free Rainbow Tote Bag
May purchase a Single membership for one household member at 50% off
Eligible for election to Board of Directors
Eligible for Patronage Rebates
Special access to quarterly financial data
Voting membership (one vote per shareholder)

SENIOR
Free annual membership/ one card per person
Must be 65 years of age
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Eligible for Member Staples and Member Specials discounts
Quarterly 10% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Non-voting Membership

STUDENT
Free annual membership/ one card per person
Must have valid college I. D. to be eligible
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Eligible for Member Staples and Member Specials discounts
Quarterly 10% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Non-voting Membership

PUBLIC SERVANT
Free annual membership/ one card per person
Must currently serve in the military or as a Fireman / Policeman
10% discount once per month ($25.00 minimum purchase)
Eligible for Member Staples and Member Specials discounts
Quarterly 10% storewide discount on Member Appreciation Days
(excluding Member Staples / Specials, other markdown items or discount prohibited items)
Non-voting Membership

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Meetings

Board of Directors meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM in the High Noon Cafe at the store on 2807 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39216.

The Annual Membership meeting and elections to the Board are held in September or October at The Cedars in Jackson, just up Old Canton Road from the store. The exact date each year is posted in the store, in the newsletter, and on the website.

Members are encouraged to attend monthly and annual meetings. If you have a topic to bring before a meeting, please contact the board president or one of the board members so your topic can be placed on the agenda. The names of current board members are located in the grocery store at the information booth.

The minutes of each monthly, annual, and special meetings are presented to the Board of Directors for approval, at the next month's regular meeting, before being posted on the Minutes Of Meetings page. Thus all minutes posted on our website are at least one month old.

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Board of Directors

Rainbow's Board of Directors is composed of 7 members elected by the membership at our annual meeting and exists to use and protect member resources to the improvement of their lives - the most benefits to the largest number of members at the least cost. The board makes policy decisions directing Co-op activities, monitors the performance of the Co-op for its member/owners, and communicates with the membership.

Board of Directors meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM in the High Noon Cafe at the store: 2807 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39216. Board members are required to attend all monthly board meetings. Members are encouraged to attend monthly board meetings. If you have a topic to bring before the board, please Contact Us so your topic can be placed on the agenda. The first 15 minutes or so of every board meeting is reserved for member input.

The minutes of each meeting are presented to the Board of Directors for approval, at the next month's regular meeting, before being posted on the Minutes Of Meetings page. Thus all minutes posted on our website are at least one month old.

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