Dealt with Care: Open Harvest Co-op’s 50th Anniversary Custom Playing Cards

Celebrating 50 Years of Community with Custom Playing Cards

At Shuffled Ink, we’re honored to help brands, artists, and organizations turn meaningful moments into tangible keepsakes. One of our favorite recent projects was the Open Harvest 50th Anniversary Cards, a custom deck created to celebrate five decades of community ownership, cooperation, and connection.

Open Harvest Co-op Grocery, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, marked their 50th anniversary in 2025 with a first-ever custom card project, which was designed exclusively for their owners and created as a heartfelt reflection of their cooperative mission.

The Open Harvest 50th Anniversary Cards were created as a commemorative gift for Open Harvest’s October 2025 Owner Drive. As a community-owned co-op, Open Harvest places its members at the center of everything they do. While anyone can shop at the store, becoming an owner represents a deeper connection to the cooperative values that guide the organization.

To celebrate this milestone, Open Harvest wanted a unique, lasting item that symbolized togetherness. A deck of custom playing cards was the perfect fit as cards bring people together, spark conversation, and create shared experiences, just like the co-op itself.

The Inspiration Behind the Deck Design

The inspiration for this custom card deck began earlier in the year at Open Harvest’s 50th Anniversary Parking Lot Party. To celebrate the occasion, Open Harvest’s Bakery Manager illustrated a playful cartoon fruit graphic that was featured on staff t-shirts during the event. The design was an instant hit with both employees and customers.

When it came time to choose a gift for the upcoming Owner Drive, Open Harvest’s Food Service Manager, who is an avid collector of unique playing card decks, suggested turning the anniversary artwork into a custom deck of cards. By repurposing a beloved in-house design, the team transformed a fun illustration into a meaningful, long-lasting keepsake.

Since the artwork already existed, the design process transitioned seamlessly into card production. The illustration was digitally created using Procreate on an iPad, making it easy to adapt the design for a playing card format.

Aside from a minor resolution adjustment, the project moved smoothly from concept to completion. This made the deck not only a celebration of Open Harvest’s anniversary, but also a testament to the power of collaboration across departments.

The debut of the Open Harvest 50th Anniversary Cards took place during the October 2025 Owner Drive and the response was overwhelmingly positive. A total of 82 new owners signed up, each receiving a free deck of cards as a welcome gift.

For Open Harvest, presenting the deck wasn’t just about giving something away; it was about sharing their story, values, and gratitude with the people who make the co-op possible.

Rooted in Cooperative Values

Open Harvest operates under seven cooperative principles that guide every decision they make:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
   
2. Democratic Member Control
   
3. Members’ Economic Participation
   
4. Autonomy and Independence
   
5. Education, Training, and Information
   
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
   
7. Concern for Community
   

These principles are deeply woven into the fabric of the organization and the 50th Anniversary Cards serve as a creative expression of those values.

Open Harvest’s story began in the early 1970’s as a small garage-based buying club for families seeking bulk organic food. They opened their first store front in 1975. Over the years, the co-op has grown through three locations, evolving into a beloved community cornerstone while also staying true to its roots.

One of the ways Open Harvest gives back is through their SEED program, which allows shoppers and owners to “round up” their purchases at checkout to support local nonprofits. Since launching in 2020, the program has raised over $100,000 for community organizations.

Why Open Harvest Chose Shuffled Ink

When it came time to manufacture their custom playing cards, Open Harvest did extensive research and ultimately chose Shuffled Ink because we are Made in the USA and known for our high-quality cards and reliable production process. We’re proud to have partnered with Open Harvest on such a meaningful project and to help bring their vision to life with premium custom playing cards.

Open Harvest’s advice for anyone creating their first custom deck is simple and powerful:

“Be as authentic as you can to reflect your brand.”

That authenticity is exactly what made this deck so special.

Where to Find the Open Harvest 50th Anniversary Cards

The Open Harvest 50th Anniversary Cards are available in-store at Open Harvest Co-op Grocery. While there are no new deck launches announced at this time, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more creative projects from this community-driven brand in the future.

As Open Harvest looks toward 2026 and beyond, their goal remains the same: to continue serving as a vibrant hub for healthy, organic, and local food while embodying the cooperative principles that have guided them for 50 years.

We’re honored to have played a small role in celebrating such a remarkable legacy.

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