PCC Natural Markets

PCC (Puget Consumers Co-op) Natural Markets is a food cooperative based in Seattle, Washington. With over 49,000 members, it is the largest consumer-owned food cooperative in the United States. Both members and non-members may shop at the retail locations, but members receive certain discounts. The organization currently operates ten retail locations. Six of the ten stores are located in Seattle (in the Fremont, Green Lake, Green Lake Village, Seward Park, View Ridge, and West Seattle neighborhoods). The other four are located in Issaquah, Kirkland, and Redmond, and Edmonds. PCC was started in 1953 and continues to function member-owned and operated. The members govern through established bylaws and yearly elect a Board of Trustees who represent the interests of the members. Like other grocery cooperatives, the profits from the retail store operations go directly back into the stores or to the community (through classes, education or charitable efforts).

Current PCC programs include:
 * PCC Sound Consumer newspaper
 * PCC Cooks classes
 * PCC Farmland Trust, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to sustainable organic farming

Relationship with Central Co-op
In 1978, Capitol Hill Co-op dissolved for financial reasons and, in keeping with the principle that co-operatives cooperate with other cooperatives, PCC agreed to provide technical and financial assistance to the Central Co-op to replace it.

Pricing
According to Consumers' Checkbook magazine, PCC's prices for the limited number of comparable items available were higher than the big-chain average. However, the quality of PCC's fresh produce and meat received very high scores. The prices of organic food at PCC were about the same as the average prices at other stores in the Puget Sound area.