PACA has a new logo!
We’re so excited to finally show you our new logo! Here it is:
The Twin Pines: a symbol of cooperatives since 1921
You’ll notice that the logo uses the Twin Pines image, which has been a symbol of cooperation since 1921. In an excerpt from a 1921 edition of the magazine “Cooperation,” we found the origination and the explanation of this symbol. This magazine was written by CLUSA, the Cooperative League of the United States of America. This organization eventually became what we know today as NCBA CLUSA, and they still incorporate the twin pines in their current logo (see below). This is an excerpt from the 1921 article in the CLUSA’s search for a Cooperative Symbol:
“The pine tree is the ancient symbol of endurance, fecundity, and immortality. Those are the qualities that we see in Co-operation. In the old Egyptian, Persian and Indian mythology, the pine tree and its symbol, the pine cone are found typifying life and the perpetuation of life. The hardy pine symbolizes the enduring quality of Co-operation. More than one pine is used to represent the mutual co-operation necessary.”
Our logo was designed by a worker co-op
Our beautiful new logo was designed by Small Multiples, a worker cooperative focused on graphic design and web development. Check out Small Multiples’ statement on why they do what they do:
Our mission is to support social and economic justice by designing and developing thoughtful media, while sustaining a long-lasting, democratic business. To us, thoughtful media means books and other printed materials, websites and online tools, and logos and identities that provide real value to users, are not disposable, and engage in the theory and practice of design and technology. We aim to characterize our work by a commitment to craft, accessibility, and community.