ROCKLAND — The Good Tern Co-op, a fixture in the natural foods scene of Midcoast Maine for over 40 years, has launched a campaign to finance a new, soon-to-be-completed walk-in refrigeration system. The “Love Your Co-op” campaign seeks contributions from shoppers, Good Tern members, and from anyone who appreciates access to fresh foods, many organically grown and locally sourced.
 
Over the next two months the campaign committee is working to raise $165,000. There are many ways to donate: A GoFundMe site is up and running and can be accessed through Good Tern’s website (https://goodtern.com/); and contributions are being collected at the Good Tern store, located at 750 Main Street, Rockland. Contributions to the refrigeration renovation project can be made tax-deductible thanks to the project’s nonprofit fiscal sponsor, the Cooperative Development Institute.
 
In a news release, Stefan Durham, Good Tern’s Board president, noted the store’s 20-year-old refrigeration and freezer equipment has failed beyond repair.

“A hard-won USDA grant gave us money to purchase this new equipment, but we need more funds to cover construction costs of the new walk-in cooler/freezer that will serve our membership and other patrons for years to come,” said Durham.
 
Because the new refrigeration system is an addition to the outside of the store, nearly 100 square feet of retail space will be freed up inside the Co-op. And the new unit will provide a volume of freezer back stock space the Co-op has never had.
 
Knox County’s poverty rate of 9-10% qualified the Good Tern to apply for the USDA  grant.

“The Good Tern makes it possible for families and seniors to purchase quality food at reasonable prices by offering a standard discount to members and higher discounts to working members,” said the release.

Good Tern accepts SNAP benefits and works with the Maine Farmland Trust’s Farm Fresh Rewards Program. Good Tern was recently accepted into National Co-op Grocers, a business services co-op representing 161 retail food co-ops across the U.S.. This allows Good Tern to purchase and sell a wide variety of products at competitive prices.
 
The Good Tern Co-op is the only cooperative, member-owned grocery store in Knox County. Many regional farms and producers provide a wide variety of food and health and beauty products.

“Close collaboration with local farms and producers makes the Good Tern a hub for food security in the region: during the pandemic, for example, Good Tern was able to support and sell locally produced food at normal rates despite supply chain shortages nationally,” said Good Tern.
 
The Good Tern contributes to the local community by raising money for area nonprofits with its Register Roundup program, sponsoring the yearly Harbor Cleanup volunteer day, and hosting regular events, classes, and a meeting space for the public on diverse topics.
 
For more information on the “Love Your Co-op” campaign for the new refrigeration system contact Good Tern’s Board Secretary Lynn Allen (207) 329-2188 or email boardofdirectors@goodtern.coop