It will always be our priority to strengthen connection by reiterating our mission statement to the whole community. We are dedicated to sharing our vision and we’re eager to make it happen!

SPECIAL EDITION!
1000 OWNER CELEBRATION & FILM SCREENING EVENT
OCTOBER 18TH @ LBCC 1PM-4:30PM

Join us in person for an inspiring screening of Food for Change! Dive into stories that highlight how communities are coming together to create a better food future. It's a perfect chance to connect, reflect, and get inspired to be part of the change. Bring your friends and let's grow together!

It is an honor to be working with Long Beach City College to host LBGCo-op as the very FIRST event to be held in the brand new Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center. This theater is absolutely gorgeous!

ABOUT THE FILM

Produced by Steve Alves, this film focuses on food co-ops as a force for dynamic social and economic change in American culture. This is the first film to examine the important historical role played by food co-ops, their pioneering quest for organic foods, and their current efforts to create regional food systems. Additionally, the film shows how cooperatives today strengthen local economies and build food security.

ABOUT LONG BEACH GROCERY CO-OP

LBGCo-op is a community-owned and operated consumer cooperative. We are committed to becoming a community partner as a full-service grocery store prioritizing affordable local, organic, & sustainable food.

Our store will source from local producers, artisans and fair-trade businesses, educating our community on the benefits of healthy eating, conscious consumption and community engagement. We will become a central hub that builds on our Long beach culture connecting health-focused partners, producers, and consumers to draw from and reinvest back into our neighborhoods.

Circulating dollars spent at the store back into Long Beach is a community-powered economy that benefits everyone. Key elements of our movement focus on Access to Fresh Produce, Small-scale Agriculture, Social Responsibility, and an Environmentally Friendly Footprint.

Get Your Tickets Today!! Click HERE

CO-OP PRINCIPLE #5: Education-Training-Information

opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation. Learn more about the Cooperative Principles HERE.

Owner Spotlight: ALL OF US! + SPONSORS

Our event next month celebrates reaching a milestone of 1,000 Owner/members. It’s time we celebrate all 1,014 of US!

Without active, invested members, a grocery cooperative risks losing its unique advantages—such as democratic control, community focus, and shared risk and reward. In short, member ownership is the foundation that turns a local grocery store into a self‑sustaining, community‑driven enterprise capable of thriving over time. We have been on a long journey and continue to make progress toward our ultimate goal.

With the help of our Sponsors we are ready to launch this celebratory event to thank our 1,014 owners and put the spotlight on the people growing our community and helping build this grocery cooperative.

With enormous Gratitude, Thank You to Our Sponsors of the Growing Together: Food for Change.

Food Co-ops Outpace Traditional Grocery Stores

National Co+op Grocers released significant findings in their 2025 Impact Report and it underscores that community owned food co-ops are succeeding by offering a different kind of model - one where shoppers own the store and farmers get more stable markets and profits that stay local. On average, co-ops source from 187 local suppliers which is 4-1/2 times as many as conventional grocers. Another key performance is 23% of average food co-op sales come from local producers compared to just 2% from a national chain store.

The timing of getting our Long Beach Grocery Co-op is more important than ever with skyrocketing prices that are about 33% higher than prices in 2019, and that grocery unit sales fell 1.8% in June vs. last year. Consumers are buying less and paying more, forcing them to switch to cheaper brands and hunt for deals. Bain’s U.S. Consumer Pulse Wave survey conducted in May found 80% of Americans are still trying to spend less, while 28% are actively cutting back on grocery spending. Among those shoppers, 56% said they are trading down to cheaper brands, 49% said they are buying fewer items and 44% said they are relying more heavily on coupons and promotions.

Access to food is another contributing pressure. While conducting research for our store, it was revealed that Long Beach is severely underserved by the number of grocery stores per households. What this tells us is that we are over due for our store and we need to come out strong to get these doors opened faster. Support the movement and purchase a share, attend our upcoming fundraiser, volunteer to help us educate the public and our community leaders on the incredibly positive economic impact we can give to Long Beach with our Grocery Co-op!

Own what feeds you!
PURCHASE AN OWNER SHARE & GIFT AN OWNER SHARE

VOLUNTEER MEETUP - 2nd Saturdays

All are WELCOME to join us from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM the second Saturday of each month at Long Beach Forward. August meeting is on the 8th.

Long Beach Forward is located at:
2217 E 6th St, Long Beach, CA 90814, USA
Parking is available at the corner of Dawson and 7th Street - please be sure to request a free parking pass & please do not park in spaces 1 thru 6.

✋🏼 Are you available to help distribute Event Posters & Fliers?
Contact Sheila to get a supply of event material and information.
sheila@longbeachgrocery.coop

☎️ How about helping with phone call follow ups to our invited VIP guests?
Contact John Newhouse at john@longbeachgrocery.coop

POPCORN BALLS

Ingredients

• 10 cups freshly popped popcorn (salted)

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 10 oz. bag of marshmallows

 Directions

1. Place popped popcorn on a large baking sheet and remove any unpopped kernels or burnt popcorn. Transfer popcorn to a very large bowl and set aside.

2. To brown the butter, melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan.

3. Keep stirring as the butter begins to foam and brown bits form on the bottom of the pan. Continue stirring until the butter turns from a lemony yellow to a deep golden color with a nutty aroma.

4. Turn the heat to low and add marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows have completely melted.

5. Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir using a rubber spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated.

6. While the mixture is still warm, grease your hands with butter or oil and shape the popcorn mixture into balls. Press together gently but firmly enough so that they hold their shape. Do not compact them too tight, or they will be too hard to eat once set. Recipe makes approximately 6 balls.

7. Once cooled, wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container.