Meet Our Directors
Meet our Directors
Kathy Faith (President)
The last time I thought of the Co-op as JUST a great place to buy my food was right before I joined the board. Now, I imagine a world based on cooperation rather than competition. I find myself falling more in love with the Co-op and the possibilities of the cooperative movement helping to create economic equity and stability in our world. Shopping at the Co-op is like coming home, always a pleasant surprise included in each visit, like learning from a staff member to gently tear apart, not cut, Lion’s Mane Mushrooms. Connections and new ideas to be discovered with each visit.
Dale Rudesill
The Co-op has been three big things for me. It is a place where I can simply trust that the food that is being offered is healthy and sustainably grown and processed, like our fresh local produce. It is also a place that just feels good with a welcoming hometown feel. Those two things give me a simple feeling of comfort. The third big thing, particularly as a board member, is the excitement and hope that I feel helping our little store play a role in a larger movement for an ethical, people and planet over profits, cooperative food system.
Arielle Danan(Secretary)
Chico Natural Foods has always held a special place in my life. As a child, I loved shopping there with my mom for organic treats. As a teenager, it became my stop for kombucha on the way to the park with friends. Later, it was where I shopped for both everyday essentials and ingredients for dinner parties. When I launched my business, Beber Almondmilk, Chico Natural was our first wholesale customer and a vital partner in sustaining the business. Today, I’m honored to give back to the Co-op that has nourished me and my community by serving on the board and helping ensure it thrives for generations to come.
Emily Alma
Chico Natural Foods has been central to my life for decades. Besides beautiful produce from my garden, probably 99.5% of my groceries come from the Co-op. I love the focus on local vendors, supporting our friends and the local economy. The imported products support small farmer/worker-owned co-ops that guarantee a living wage. It is a valued community hub. The staff creates a welcoming environment. They carry the healthiest, most sustainably produced products available. I can’t imagine life in Chico without the Co-op.
Xoco Shinbrot
Chico Natural Foods has become an important part of my life and my values. I moved to Chico two years ago and one of the first places I went was the Co-op. I love stopping by for fresh fruits, a bottle of chai, and to see what new treats they have in store. As a full-time scientist with the State of California, I spend my days thinking about how we can build resilient communities and sustainable food systems. Serving on the board feels like a natural extension of that work. I bring experience in environmental policy, Tribal partnerships, and cooperative governance, but more importantly, I bring a deep belief in the power of collective action for social and ecological well-being. I’m excited to support our farmers and producers, strengthen local connections, and help ensure the Co-op continues to thrive as a community-driven resource for healthy, sustainable living.
Peter Ratner
As long as I can remember I have been around Co-ops and cooperatives. My family belonged to the Palo Alto Cooperative Grocery in the late 50's, and between the ages of 8 and 13 I went to Camp Unalyee, (run by the American Friends Service Committee) which operated under cooperative principles. As a young adult, and throughout my life, I have been a part of many communal living situations, and still am a part of a communal family to this day.
To me, the Co-op isn't just a place where you go to buy things. It's the people; the ones who work there, the ones who shop there, and the ones who benefit from our "Round Up" donation policy. It makes me proud to be part of our store in Chico that treats its workers fairly and equitably, provides its customers with wholesome local food, donates to community organizations, and is a model for cooperation on a civic level.