LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Co-op announced a trial membership option for customers looking to experience the benefits of their variety of organic food offerings before becoming a co-op owner.

The 30-day trial owner membership will allow first time customers to receive the 15-percent owner discount for the first month of their membership, though will not allow the customers to have owner voting rights.

Those interested in signing up for the 30-day trial membership can do so at the co-op's Web site at www.lake.coop and follow the links to “Shop” and “Register Now.”

When the customer places their first order (order cycle is open Sunday 12:01 a.m. through Tuesday 12:30 p.m.) , they will be prompted to select a membership level. They can then choose the new “30-Day Trial Owner.”

“This gives our customers the opportunity to see what a great value we offer for high quality organic products without having to make the full commitment of becoming an owner and purchasing a share before they've even shopped with us the first time,” said Lake Co-op Operations Manager Robyn Bera.

Customers do not have to be owners in Lake Co-op to shop from either the online ordering system or the overages that are available on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 307 N. Main St. in Lakeport at the new Lake Works store next to Watershed Books. However, owners receive a 15-percent discount from non-owner pricing.

“A 15-percent discount is a significant savings these days,” said Jim Leonardis of Leonardis Organics and Lake Co-op's board president.

Ownership in Lake Co-op is one of the distinctive factors of cooperative models of business. Lake Co-op is California's only cooperatively owned online food ordering and distribution system.

Ownership in Lake Co-op consists of purchasing 12 shares at $25 per share for a total investment of $300. Lake Co-op offers its owners the ownership opportunity with a minimum one share purchase ($25) per year.

“Owners can take up to 12 years to become fully vested,” said founding member and manager, JoAnn Saccato, “or they can purchase as many shares as they like, including the full one-time investment of $300.”

“The minimum annual share purchase of $25 can be earned back in the 15-percent discount in a matter of weeks,” added Bera. “Most co-ops are now giving patronage refunds at the end of the year rather than immediate discounts. We thought our owners would appreciate the upfront discount given the current economic situation.”

Once a customer decides to become an owner and purchases their first share, they have all the rights of ownership including the 15-percent discount, one vote, the opportunity to receive an additional 10-percent discount on Thursdays when working a Thursday warehouse or overage store position, and the opportunity to become an owner-worker. Owner-workers are eligible to receive an additional 10-percent discount on all purchases – online and overage – through the Co-op.

“Owner-workers need only fulfill a five-hour minimum per month (60-hours per membership year) work commitment in any of the co-op's work areas – not just the Thursday operations positions – and they receive the deeper discounts,” said Bera.

“You'd be amazed at how many people it takes to run the co-op. From telephone orderers, pick up and delivery drivers, Azure Standard coordination and so much more,” said Bera. “It takes a lot of cooperation each week to bring high quality organic products to our 12 drop points throughout Lake County.”

For more information on Lake Co-op and taking advantage of their new 30-Day Trial Membership, visit www.lake.coop or call 707-513-5226.