The Merc Co+op

10/24/2026

🎂🎈We’re turning 52 this month! Let’s look back at some of our history.

What started as a buying club in 1974 by a group of Lawrencians with a shared passion for community access to affordable, local whole foods has grown in the last 52 years from a single employee to a staff of nearly 100. The vision of increasing access to healthy, and affordable food across our regional community continues to guide us today.

The dedication of that founding group and our employees, owners, board members, vendors, community partners and customers over the years has laid the foundation for the more than 10,000 owners today to participate in a business that puts people before profit and supports a vibrant food economy.

Scroll through the carousel to see some photos from years past, and maybe some familiar faces :)

10/23/2026

✨EMAIL EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY ALERT!✨

October is Fair Trade Month!

To celebrate, two lucky entrants will get a box of Fairtrade Certified products like chocolate and spices, plus a tote bag, stickers and more!

➡️✨To enter, find the link in your weekly deals email. Not yet subscribed? Find the link in the comments below!✨⬅️

Learn more about Fairtrade America on their account, and check out ITRAicons who painted our mural of Joselinda Manueles, a coffee farmer in Honduras and founding member of COMSA, a Fairtrade coffee cooperative.

You can find Fairtrade Certified Kicking Horse Coffee, a brand that sources from COMSA, at the co-op!

10/22/2026

Join us this Sunday, October 25 from 11–1 for our Fall Samplefest! We’ll have free samples of Thanksgiving Catering items from the deli and bakery like green beans amandine, mushroom walnut loaf, pumpkin pie and Douglas County pie, plus samples of some of our favorite seasonal grocery products in the aisles. Come early; the samples will go fast!

10/21/2026

It's the co-op's vision to support a thriving economy, and in this weekly series we will introduce you to some of the local vendors providing our community with good local food and products. Meet LFK Press!

Leslie knew art and creating were her passion from an early age, but she found her medium when she took her first printmaking class in college.

“I fell in love. With painting, you end up with one piece and only certain people are exposed to the work. With print, you sell them cheaper, you get them to people easier. Printmaking aligns with my politics.”

She’s been in her current studio and shop in East Lawrence since 2010. She prints on anything flat — posters, garments, gifts, onesies, hats and more. All of her prints and done by hand, and the process is part of what makes her work personally satisfying.

“I’m working for myself, and working with the community I love. There’s really something cool about Lawrence, it’s why we live here. For me it’s really about making connections with all walks of life, helping others realize their ideas.”

Learn more on our website, and find LFK Press t-shirts and stickers at the co-op!

10/17/2026

Residential and Commercial Composting service is coming to Lawrence! Compost Collective KC is offering co-op owners 30% off your first 3 months of curbside compost pickup! Learn more about their service when you shop the co-op this weekend and next, or online at compostcollectivekc.com 🌱🪏♻️

10/14/2026

10/12/2026

Local pumpkins delivered today! 🎃🍂🍄

10/08/2026

It's the co-op's vision to support a thriving economy, and in this series we will introduce you to some of the local vendors providing our community with good, local food. Meet Lite Bites KC!

For Melanie, starting a small business was never part of the plan. She simply wanted clean, transparent snacks for herself and her two boys.

She perfected her recipe over years of testing, and with the support of friends and family her personal passion shifted into something new. She saw building her business as an opportunity to create something meaningful and show her sons what it looks like to pursue a dream.

Today, Lite Bites KC distributes to 44 locations across the metro and employs a full-time team of four. The team hand-rolls and packages roughly 2,700 bites every day.

That growth hasn't changed Melanie's approach to people. “I love working with small, local businesses. Those personal touch points and those relationships matter.”

Learn more at our and find Lite Bites KC protein bites in the fridge and freezer sections at the co-op!

10/07/2026

Thank you to all of our shoppers for your generosity and support of the Change for our Community Program. In September, you contributed over $4,300 to Cultivate KC!

This month, we're rounding up for Kanbe's Markets. "Kanbe’s Markets rescues fresh produce destined for landfills and redirects it to low-income, low-access neighborhoods without grocery stores making fruits and vegetables available and accessible to families who need them most. Kanbe’s also supplies fresh foods to over 60 food pantries, like our partner Just Food. Your Change donation will help Kanbe’s continue to support distribution of fresh food to our Kansas neighbors while keeping millions of pounds of produce out of landfills."

Learn more --> Kanbe's Markets

10/05/2026

🛒Shopper Picks: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, made from scratch daily, using local eggs and flour + high-schooler approved 🍪