Join the Coop

Coop membership is open to all, but you must be a member to shop at the Park Slope Food Coop.

Please become familiar with the five steps you'll need to take to become a Coop member, detailed below.

Six Steps to Joining The Coop

  1. Find out if you are Required to Pre-Register for an Orientation
  2. Register for and Attend a New Member Orientation
  3. Provide Proof of Identity and Address
  4. Select a Coop workslot

    Once steps 1-4 have been completed you will be an official Park Slope Food Coop member. However, because it takes the Coop several hours to process your application and enter information into our membership database...

    You will NOT be able to shop the day you join. Your shopping privileges will begin when the store opens the following day.

  5. Have a Photo taken for your Coop Membership Card
  6. Make your Member Payments

You may complete steps 4 and 5 within the several weeks after joining. You will have four weeks to have your photo taken and at least 8 weeks to make all your payments.


Check here for quick answers to Orientation Frequently Asked Questions.

  1. Find out if you are Required to Pre-Register for an Orientation.

    Who Is NOT Required to Pre-Register:

    • People who have been Coop members in the past, it doesn't matter how long ago.
    • People who are newly living with someone who is a current Coop member, but have never been members themselves.

    If you think you are not required to pre-register for Orientation (based on the above) please call the Membership Office for information about the steps you need to take to join/re-join the Coop.

    Who MUST Pre-Register:

    • People who have never been Coop members before.
    • People who attended an Orientation more than two years ago, but never joined.

  2. Register for and Attend a New Member Orientation.

    Pre-registration is required to attend one of the four Orientations held each week: Monday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.. One member of a household may pre-register for additional housemates: just provide us with everyone's name in form below. Orientations begin promptly and last approximately two hours. Once the Orientation has begun, latecomers will not be admitted. Some people feel that the orientation room is a bit on the cold side, so bring a sweater (seriously).

    The drop down menus allow you to select up to three dates from all currently available Orientation dates. If there are few or no dates in the drop-down, the website is not broken: it just means all available dates are full. Additional dates may appear in the list if space opens in an orientation due to cancellations.

    Do not attend an Orientation unless you have received an email confirmation.

    Sorry, there are currently no dates available. Additional dates will be added on Tuesdays and Thursdays around 3:00 pm.

  3. Provide Proof of Identity and Address.

    We require two forms of ID: a photo ID that verifies your identity and a piece of mail (see below for details) that verifies your current address. The easiest way is to bring all your ID with you to the Orientation and present it during the post-orientation joining process. The ID step must be completed before you can move on to steps 3-5. If you do not have appropriate ID with you at the Orientation, you cannot complete the joining process. You will need to return with ID in order to join the Coop. If you are concerned about the security of your information, we want to assure you that the Coop does not retain copies of your ID, nor do we retain account numbers.

    Acceptable forms of photo ID:

    • Driver's License
    • Passport
    • State-Issued Non-Driver's License
    • Current Student ID
    • Military ID
    • Employee ID
    • Other photo ID (accepted at the Coop's discretion)

    Acceptable forms of proof of address:

    • Must be dated within last three months...
    • ConEd Bill
    • National Grid Bill
    • Credit Card Statement
    • Phone Bill
    • Bank statement
    • Apartment lease
    • Other official mail (accepted at the Coop's discretion)

  4. Select a Coop Workslot.

    If you do not join immediately following an Orientation, come in person to the Membership Office any other time during office hours to select your workslot. Selecting a workslot will take approximately 15-20 minutes, though the whole process of joining could take longer if the office is busy. Every adult member of your household must choose a workslot. Once you have selected a workslot you will receive shopping privileges at the Coop no later than the start of business the following day. You will then be a full-fledged member.

  5. Have a photo taken for your Coop Membership Card.

    If you join immediately following an Orientation, your photo will be taken during that process. Otherwise, photos for Coop Membership cards are taken in the Coop Membership Office during regular office hours. You have four weeks from the date you select a workslot to come in and have your picture taken. We will then process the photo and mail you your membership card. You can expect to receive your card in the mail approximately four weeks after you have your picture taken.

    Until you receive your card in the mail, in order to enter the Coop you will have to ask the Entrance Worker to look you up on the "List of People Who Can Shop Without a Card." This list is organized alphabetically by last name. Once you receive your card, swipe it at the entrance to let us know you have received it.

  6. Make your Member Payments.

    All members must pay a non-refundable joining fee and contribute an investment to the Coop (which is returnable if you leave the Coop). Member payments do not need to be made the day you select your workslot. New members make their member payments during the first eight weeks of their membership, or over a longer period of time if an extended payment plan is requested.