In 2001, MOON formed a committee to explore ways of increasing the availability of locally produced food. The committee determined that providing a reliable year-round market for locally grown products would encourage more farmers to stay in farming and would provide the opportunity for our citizens to support a locally based food system.

The MOON Food Cooperative was formed to pursue the goal of opening a natural foods retail storefront. Realizing that attaining this goal would be a long process, the Coop Steering Committee decided to organize a once-a-month buying club to start connecting with local producers, and the suppliers, that would be stocking the shelves of our future storefront. The Coop gained members and support by merging with a local buying club that had been operating in Oxford for 6 years.

In the fall of 2003, the Coop officially formed a 7 member Interim Board of Directors to guide the cooperative toward the storefront. Developing Bylaws, filing for incorporation, applying for grants and loans, fund raising and recruiting member/owners are just a small few of the tasks being completed by our dedicated Board and members. The future looks bright for the MOON Food Cooperative and the citizens of Oxford!