Good Earth Market

Good Earth Market integrates local, sustainable food systems, cooperative values, and environmental stewardship in a lively community marketplace. Everyone is welcome! Stop in and say hello... Good Earth Market modestly began, like most co-ops, as a food buying club in 1987. For seven years, the members ordered food that was delivered every eight weeks. That effort organically evolved into a need for a retail storefront and, in December 1993, we purchased the assets ofBillings’ oldest grocery store: Tenth Avenue Grocery. After months of hard preparation, GEM opened a cozy 1800 square foot store in July 1994 with 300 members. Within a year, membership had nearly doubled. In October of 2001, GEM opened a little deli and debuted its now-famous hummus. By 2004, with 900 members overall, sales had increased tenfold and inventory fourfold. We had 4 full-time and 11 part-time employees and were at a major crossroads. With the support of our membership, the Board initiated a major expansion project. Students from MSU-B took us on as a class project and helped with crucial in-depth analysis of demographics, industry trends, alternative locations and financing possibilities, and a subsequent business plan. Today, Good Earth Market remains Billings’ only food co-op, with more than 4,700 members and 30 employees.  But, most importantly, thanks to the efforts and cooperation of our members, volunteers, staff and community, we know that our best years are still ahead of us!