If you shopped at the Daily Market Co-op even a month ago, you probably wouldn’t recognize it today. The Co-op, located at has been drastically remodeled, doubling its shelf space, increasing its inventory, and even repainting.

“I walked in and said, ‘This looks fabulous!'” said senior volunteer coordinator Wynne Auld.  

The co-op has also overhauled its administrative structure. Previously, a paid project manager oversaw all the activities of the co-op. Now, however, it has switched to a completely volunteer-based system. Appointed day managers supervise the store, and trained volunteers work in shifts throughout the day.  

“It’s amazing to run an organization of all volunteers,” said Auld. “People have to be really reliable.”

In 2005, three Whitman students received a $40,000 grant from ASWC to provide the Whitman and wider Walla Walla community with a sustainable and healthy local grocery store. Since then, the co-op’s growth has enabled it to focus more on enriching its products and services.

“The Daily Market’s goals have shifted from trying to get member-owners to join, to really providing a place where the community can buy locally,” said senior board member Elizabeth Bragg, who is also the Co-op secretary and store community chair. “Today we are trying to find a new location in downtown Walla Walla so that we may provide our customers with more food and a better overall experience.”

The co-op is member-owned and operates as a democratic body. Members pay a sum up front, as well as yearly dues. These membership fees, along with store profits and donations, made up the funds for the recent remodel.

“The people who shop [at the Daily Market] are really the ones who own the grocery store,” said Auld.

Although membership comes with benefits such as discounts and votes on issues that concern the grocery store, shoppers do not need to be members to purchase products at the co-op. Products are affordable even without member discounts.

 “We get wholesale rates from all of our producers, and we mark up less than the typical grocery store,” said Auld.  

Unlike commercial grocery stores, the co-op focuses on supporting various local and regional farmers.  

“The co-op is more concerned about where products are coming from, how things are made, how it affects people,” said day manager Darby Le Clair.