Fare Share Co-op began in the early 1970’s as West Paris Co-op (or Goat Co-op), a group of families who gathered monthly in a member’s barn to jointly pre-order cases of produce and staples. Membership grew and more pre-order groups were established, until in 1978, two storefront co-ops were opened: one in Bethel and one in South Paris. The one in South Paris became known as Fare Share Co-op. A coordinator was hired and membership levels were instituted. The Co-op incorporated in 1978 as Oxford Hills Food and Nutrition Exchange, Inc., a non-profit corporation in the State of Maine.

In 1980, Fare Share moved to 18 Tannery Street. We did business there for 21 years and grew at a slow and steady pace, faithfully serving our members and others in the Oxford Hills. In 1999, we almost moved to a new location on Alcott Street, but did not. In 2000, the Town of Norway made us an offer we didn’t refuse.

Thanks to a Community Block Grant, the Town offered us an historic but decrepit building on Main Street and we agreed to take on the renovation/restoration project with the intention of expanding our store in this new, highly-visible location. In April 2001, we moved to our current location 441 Main Street following a year-long project supported by thousands of hours of volunteer labor, member loans and donations, and long-term low-interest loans from the Town of Norway, the Maine CDBG (Community Development Block grant) and the federal Rural Development Agency. We also received financial support from these area businesses (who gave gifts of more than $250; many more individuals and businesses contributed other gifts):

Norway Savings Bank
Androscoggin Bank
Dr. Robert Story
An anonymous Main Street merchant
Paris Farmers Union
Austin Associates
Grover Gundrilling, Inc.
Biz Realty/Hair Biz
Stephen E. Solms
Key Bank
Goodwin’s Insurance, Inc.
Grassroots Graphics
Moose Pond Arts

before

Fare Share now has offices and workspace upstairs and has opened the Fare Share Commons, a large groundfloor room available for educational and community uses.

	after

Fare Share has a membership of about 150 households who are members in good standing. We continue to make improvements to both store operations and our building to better serve our members, our community, and the mission of our co-op.