Our History
Franklin Community Co-op started as a buying club in 1977 called The Montague Food Co-op. This first incarnation the Co-op provided natural foods to the region. Our first storefront location in Turners Falls was entirely volunteer-led, with members receiving a discount in exchange for their work (our very first Working-Members).
In December, 1986, co-op members formally incorporated as the Franklin Community Co-op. After receiving approval by our member-owners, the co-op moved to a larger space on Chapman Street in Greenfield in 1987.
As membership grew, our member-owners looked for ways to grow the store. On November 17, 1993, FCC opened Green Fields Market at 144 Main Street in downtown Greenfield in the storefront formerly occupied by the JC Penney department store.
In August 2007, the co-op grew again when we purchased McCusker’s Market, an existing natural food store in Shelburne Falls. As a two-store co-op, we work to meet the changing needs of our communities across Franklin County.
Today, with over 5,700 member-owners, FCC is again embarking on a move that allows our cooperative to meet the needs of the region. In November, 2022 FCC signed a Purchase and Sale agreement for space in the Wilson’s Building. This move reinforces our commitment to a strong and thriving downtown Greenfield while allowing us to double our sales floor, bringing in more local and diverse products with a wider range of price points.
Our latest expansion will again fill a vacant Main Street storefront, left empty by the closing of Wilson’s Department Store in 2019. In partnership with over 30 community organizations, local businesses, and local food producers, FCC works to support the local food system, increasing access to locally grown, healthy foods for everyone. Learn more about our expansion here.