At the end of August, your Board of Directors spent a full day together to establish goals and a work plan for 2024-2025. What distinguished the day was the flow of positive energy, show of strong commitment, and affirmation of the collective dedication to serve the community.

We established three goals which you’ll be hearing more about in the months ahead. We hope you, as owners, will join us in developing these goals through our many Board committees that involve smart, fun people working together to enhance our experience and engagement with Deep Roots!

✅ Goal #1: Develop a strong statement of what distinguishes Deep Roots Market today from other markets and co-ops so that we can communicate that clearly and consistently in all messaging. This task, one that will build upon our roots while also recognizing the changing community landscape, will involve soliciting input from our owners in the coming weeks and months. This goal is designed to directly and positively impact our other goals and the overall operations of Deep Roots Market.

✅ Goal #2: Achieve robust financial health and increase Deep Roots’ vibrancy to be able to initiate new programming, store changes, and pay off all outstanding owner loans by 2027. We will release plans later this fall about new programming, fundraising, and details about an ambitious owner loan repayment schedule (and we’ll communicate directly as well with the owners who graciously provided loans to make Deep Roots what it is today!). We know many of you who loaned us funds have been patient and we thank you for that. We are committed to paying off all owner loans and promise to communicate in the next 90 days our specific plans for how to do that. You can expect significant loan repayment to start in 2024. In the meantime, we ask that you please refrain from asking our market staff about this...we will keep you updated as soon as our plans and projections are solid. Keep in mind that you can always write to the Board President with questions at boardofdirectors@deeprootsmarket.com.

✅ Goal #3: Support the onboarding of our new General Manager. As announced previously, we are thrilled that Matt Davis has taken over as Deep Roots’ new General Manager, effective July 1, 2024, a job that requires him to wear many hats and take on new tasks and responsibilities. Our core values of equity, democracy at work and in the community, care for others, sustainability, and social responsibility will guide our effort to work with Matt to ensure Deep Roots continues to grow and serve the people of Greater Greensboro.

Many thanks to you, our owners and shoppers, for supporting Deep Roots Market.

Greensboro, NC — Long-time Deep Roots Market employee Matt Davis has been named the store’s new General Manager, effective July 1, 2024. Davis was promoted to the co-op’s top position to ensure Greensboro’s only downtown market continues to serve the surrounding community. With more than 10,000 engaged owners, Greensboro’s residents actively support the co-op’s mission of promoting local, natural, and organic foods and products for a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future.

Davis brings a wealth of experience in the natural foods sector, with previous diverse roles in front-end operations, finance, and human resources. Davis is highly respected within the organization and in the community, owing to his commitment to behind-the-scenes responsibilities, his aptitude for resolving everyday and unexpected crises, and making sound decisions in consideration of the impact on all of Deep Roots’ stakeholders.

According to Davis, “Deep Roots is poised to excel in the coming years as it serves Greensboro’s residents and importantly, a growing number of tourists who are taking full advantage of the downtown’s cultural offerings.”

Deep Roots began in the 1960s as a small vegetarian buying club at Guilford College. By 1976, it opened its first storefront. Just prior to moving to the expanded, current downtown location in 2013, it operated for more than 20 years on Spring Garden Street.

Deep Roots features fresh foods from local farmers as well as health and wellness products. Most recently, it has prioritized sustainability initiatives including drop-off composting, community glass recycling, and a station for electric car charging.

Deep Roots is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. As a co-op, Deep Roots demonstrates how people working together can successfully address one another’s needs and implement desired solutions. As such, Deep Roots serves as a living example of an economic, social, and political alternative to corporate-owned businesses. While anyone can shop at the co-op, Deep Roots’ owners invest $100 for a lifetime membership allowing them to vote in co-op elections, run for a seat on the voluntary board, and receive discounts on products throughout the year.

It's because of people like you, Deep Roots Market Owners, that our Co-op provides a sustainable and just co-op experience for the greater Greensboro community. We are proud that Deep Roots has a robust Board of Directors to help guide the direction and growth of the Co-op through hiring and collaborating with the General Manager, setting organizational policies, and monitoring the Co-op’s operations.

In the spirit of democratic governance, we hold elections annually for owners interested in making a bigger contribution to the well-being of Deep Roots. We invite YOU to consider becoming a candidate for one of the open Board of Directors positions in the May 2024 election. Our goal is to have a diverse Board that can best represent the varied interests of our community with their commitment, energy, and vision. Training is provided for Board Members. Board Members attend monthly board meetings and work with one or more committees. Board Members receive a 15% discount on Co-op purchases for their service.

Find out more about what it means to serve on the Board of Directors:

• Attend one of our regular monthly board meetings, held on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Community Room.
• Contact us at drmnomcom@gmail.com if you'd like to receive information and/or set up a meeting to talk more about this opportunity to serve.
• Come to a special “Board Meet & Greet” on Monday, January 22 at 5:00 pm in the Community Room. Several of our current Board Members will be there to answer questions and provide greater insight into Board activities.

All candidates will need to complete an application and submit it with a photograph no later than February 29, 2024.

Introducing the Co+op Deals app! The great deals you love in our printed sales flyer are now available on your smartphone.

Browse deals on the go, find information about our co-op (or nearby food co-ops when you’re traveling!) and never miss sales on your favorite items.

Download the Co+op Deals app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Be among the first 3,000 registered users and receive a free gift and a $10 coupon to use right here at the co-op!

Deep Roots Market Board of Directors Meetings

We welcome all Owners to attend our monthly Board of Director meetings, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Grab a seat at our meetings held in the Community Room or attend via Zoom. To attend virtually, email boardofdirectors@deeprootsmarket.com prior to the meeting for a Zoom invitation.

2024 Meeting Dates & Main Topic of Discussion

• Monday, January 22—Business Planning and Asset Protection
• Monday, February 26—Financial Condition Review
• Monday, March 25—Staff and General Manager Relations
• Monday, April 22—Owner Rights and Responsibilities
• Saturday, May 4—Annual Owners Meeting
• Monday, May 20–Welcome New Board Members and Roles
• Monday, June 24—Customer Experience
• Monday, July 22—Global Executive Constraint
• Sunday, August 25 (date to be confirmed) Annual Board Retreat
• Monday, September 23–Communication
• Monday, October 28—Goals
• Monday, November 25—Financial Condition Review
• Monday, December 16—Business Planning