January 9, 2025
What began as a quest for affordable, nutritious food has become a multi-state service that addresses both a market need and a personal one. Through passion and determination, Cassie Michael, founder of the Food and Meat Co-op, turned a family necessity into a thriving organization.
After falling into debt, the Michaels knew they needed to make a change. By relying on couponing and side hustles, they overcame their financial struggles. However, Cassie’s frugal mindset led to a realization.
“The foods we were getting through couponing and crazy deals weren’t exactly the healthiest options,” Cassie said. “I didn’t want to feed my family processed, low-quality food long term.”
Determined to save money while feeding her family nutritious meals, Cassie explored local co-ops for fresh produce and organic goods but couldn’t find affordable, high-quality meat. That’s when inspiration struck. “What if I started a meat co-op myself?”
Her urgency grew during COVID-19, as store shelves emptied, meat purchases were limited, and her family of eight struggled with the restrictions. Friends, familiar with her co-op experience, sought her help and amplified her resolve.
“They wanted to know how to get meat directly from producers and bypass the disrupted supply chain,” she said. “I took action, connecting our community with local and national producers to bring food straight to our doorsteps.”
The operation started small in May 2020, with just a few hundred people and four pickup locations. By 2024, they had 37 pickup locations throughout Utah and expanded into Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada.
“The demand was real,” she said. “People love the convenience and savings. We’re constantly hearing from folks across the country who are eager for us to come to their state.”
Through her journey, Cassie has learned that “Community is everything.” Whether rallying members or engaging with readers on her blog, she’s realized, “Success stems from building trust and fostering relationships.”
When growing her co-op, Cassie relied on her husband‘s full-time job to seed the initial idea. She also benefited from the Women’s Business Center of Utah and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, who awarded her a grant to fund a delivery van and the co-op’s first website.
Calling Utah’s mothers “the backbone of this state,” she thanked them for her success. “I’ve had many moms rally around the mission because of its impact on their families’ lifestyles. My business is truly ‘Moms on a Mission to Feed Utah.’”
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.
Update: To hear more about Cassie’s story, check out season 7, episode 4 of GOEO’s Business Elevated podcast.