Member Resources

This isn’t just a marketplace. It’s a backbone for Appalachian folks who want to grow something real.

We gather up what small farmers, makers, and food folks are growing and making all over West Virginia and put it in one place. No more chasing orders or juggling a mess of paperwork. Buyers can find what they need across Appalachia, order it all in one go, and get it without the usual headaches.

But getting Appalachian goods out there takes a lot more than just tossing them up on a website. We’re building the stuff most folks never see. Warehouses. Storage. Shared trucks. The kind of things that eat up time and money if you’re trying to do it all by yourself. We handle the moving parts so producers can get back to growing, making, and doing what they do best.

We’re not just about trucks and warehouses. We help folks get the word out, find new customers, and sell in places they never thought possible. Nobody should have to be a jack-of-all-trades just to get their hard work into someone’s hands.

As we get bigger, we’re finding ways to share equipment, kitchens, and tools so small businesses can grow without going broke trying to buy it all themselves.

Just as important, we’re making space for folks to learn from each other. Workshops, meetups, swapping stories and advice. It’s about building a network so nobody has to go it alone.

That's the heart of this cooperative. Gather what we can. Share what matters. Build new markets side by side. Keep Appalachian goods in Appalachian hands.

For buyers, it’s a simpler way to find, order, and support what’s made right here at home. For producers, it means having the tools, know-how, and support that only get stronger when we build them together. And for West Virginia, it means a food-and-farm economy with some backbone.

Our producers don’t just make good stuff; they’ve got a real system behind them to help it go farther.

We are proud to be a member-owned cooperative, not a middleman operation. Our co-op is democratically run, meaning each member has an equal vote in shaping how we grow and operate. Our cooperative also runs on a net-zero basis. This means at the end of the year, once operating costs and reserves are covered, any remaining profits are distributed back to our member-owners, based on their level of participation and use.

We’re here to help, and let’s start by telling you about Mountain State Market Academy. In this area, we don’t merely talk about helping people grow their businesses; we take action and get down to business.

The MSMA is a six-month intensive course designed for individuals who turn what grows in our hills and hollers into something worth sharing. The first step is to determine where you currently are and where you would like to go, with no unnecessary softening of the facts. After that, you are paired with a small group of people who are on a similar path, so that you’re not having to go it alone. The aim is to build something genuine, together.

Each group has a guide; this will be a person from the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition who is familiar with these roads and knows what is necessary to reach this area. Together with them, there are others who have seen a lot and know how to take you to where you want to go. For six months we shall walk with you, one step at a time, assisting you in turning your ideas into something that you can hold in your hands.

If you join our co-op, you don't just get a place at the table; you get a whole team to support you. We’ll help promote your products and get them onto the shelves and into people's hands. If you need to work out the rules or would like to have a go at hop farming, we’ll support you. And if there’s any equipment you can’t afford on your own, we likely have it ready for you. In our community, we look after one another.

If you're interested in joining Mountain State Co-Hop, please complete the preliminary application below for review, email us your Patronage agreement, and include a W9.

To become a member, producers MUST offer agricultural or value-added products. Membership must be approved by the board of directors, and members must sign a patronage agreement.

Upon review of the application, a team member will follow up with you shortly.

We look forward to hearing from you!