Join Honest Weight

You can own part of the largest food co-op in the Capital Region!

Thanks for your interest in joining the co-op!

Below you can sign-up for one of our upcoming New Member Orientations. Please click below your preferred orientation type. This is your first step on becoming a Member-Owner!

January In-Person Orientation Dates

January Zoom Orientation Dates

Can't make any of the listed dates? No problem, click the ribbon below to email Memeber Services to request a specific time:

When you join Honest Weight, you become an Owner of the Capital Region's most successful food cooperative. You'll be pooling resources with over 10,000 others who believe in healthy food and healthy living, so that you can provide natural foods, healthy products, and supportive services to your family and your local community.

Benefits of Member-Ownership

♦ Discounts on all in-store purchases, including wholesome, local, and nutritious foods, wellness products, garden products, and more.

♦ Receive exclusive discounts from local businesses from our Co-op Connections program.

♦ Learn about sustainable living with newsletter, articles, classes, and mutual exchanges with your fellow member-owners.

♦ Support your local small-scale farms, organizations, businesses, and the individuals that make our community thrive.

♦ Become a Member-Owner and Invest time in our various department and administration offices and build-up your in-store discount - up to 24% for investing 12 hours in each month.

♦ Lastly, in addition to the above, Member-Owners have the right to vote at all Membership Meetings, run for the Board, and serve on committees.

Attend Member Orientation

New Members Orientations are typically held three times each month, and are around 90 minutes long. At this time the Co-op only offers two viewing options; virtually through Zoom OR in-person at our Albany store location.

Please choose from the following Orientation dates (scroll up). If you cannot make any of the available times or require a private session, please email us (MemberServices@honestweight.coop). Don’t forget to RSVP first, and save your seat - our orientations have been known to max out.

Complete On-Boarding Paperwork & Purchase Ownership

To join, you must buy a Certificate of Ownership and become an official owner of the Honest Weight Food Co-op. In addition, you will need to complete several other important documents. To be handed to the Service Desk in the front-end of our store (adjacent to Produce).

• Purchase of Ownership Agreement

• Parking Lot Agreement

• Owner Email Authorization / Unsubscribe notice

• Time Investment Form

• Skills Form

Click here to download/view/print the required on-boarding forms.

*You'll also provide ID (valid State ID, Driver's License or Passport) and “Purchase an Ownership Interest” form.

Ownership Certificates cost $100.00, and your purchase is a one-time cost. You may choose to pay the $100 in full the day you join (in which case you’ll never have another payment), or you may select one of the following flexible payment plans - with only $10 down:

• $10 deposit & $8.45/month for 11 months (totals $102.95)

• $15 deposit & $15.69 every 6 months for 3 years (totals $109.14)

• $10 deposit & $10.55 every 6 months for 5 years (totals $115.50)

Your 2% discount takes effect immediately, regardless of which payment option you choose.

Payments can be made at any time by mail, over the phone or at the Service Desk, and there is no penalty for paying for your ownership cost ahead of schedule. Your owner payment status information is available whenever you check in for your time investment, or simply by calling the store and asking when your next owner payment is due. Remember that only you are responsible to make the payment(s) on time, you will receive no warning or notification. Your discount will stop until your account is up-to-date.

If you choose to end your Honest Weight membership, you may request a refund for the ownership interest you purchased (an Ownership Certificate after February 2018, or a Share if you purchased before March of 2016).

As an Owner you are expected to:

• Make timely ownership payments if you are paying on your $100 (we don't have yearly dues, the only payment due is the purchase of the “Ownership Interest” form).

• Purchase an ownership certificate for each member of your household (18 years of age or older).

• Actively participate in the Co-op’s governance structure (whereby Member-Owners who are up to date on time investment hours may vote at quarterly Membership Meetings).

Start Enjoying Your In-Store Discounts

• 2% - All Owners who are up to date with owner payments (base).

• 5% - Any Senior Owner (65 years old and over) who is up to date with owner payments, with an 8% discount on Wednesdays.

• "Extra 5%" - All Owners receive an additional 5% discount (in addition to their regular discount) on select local "Owner Deals" found throughout the store (marked with a green “LOCAL: Owners save an extra 5%” sign).

• 8% or 24% - Invest time within department(s) each week or month to receive a higher discount on all in-store purchase. See next section for more details.

• All Owners can also take advantage of additional discounts at other businesses through our Co-op Community Connections.

Start Investing Hours In-Store & Get More Involved

Owners have the option to invest hours each week within the various departments that are in-need of Member-Owner help. This also includes administrative and data entry work! See our Member-Owner Opportunities page for more information about our time investment opportunities.

• 8% - Monthly Member-Owner who invests 3 hours of time for the Co-op per month.

• 24% - Weekly Member-Owner who invests 3 hours of time for the Co-op per week.

The support and involvement of our Owners make the Co-op a strong, participatory, and responsive community. As Owners of a cooperative, we collectively make a remarkable and demonstrable impact on our local community and the sustainability of our local economy.

The Board of Directors and You

All Owners are represented by an elected Board of Directors. Directors serve up to three year terms and are elected at a Membership Meeting each April.

Any Member-Owner who is current with owner payments and time investment hours may be nominated or self-nominate to run for election to the Board or GRC and may vote for Board candidates and all elected positions.