Purchasing Guidelines

We will always purchase from local farms, local businesses, and larger independent companies whose practices are socially just and environmentally sound whenever possible. Our goal is to provide wholesome and nutritious food with affordable options. Our buyers carefully balance their purchasing power to find the best products available and then ensure that they are affordable for our members and customers.

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As much as possible, we will buy products from sources which are:

• local and certified organic

• small scale

• collectively or cooperatively run

• not-for-profit or non-profit

• sustainable and/or environmentally-minded

As much as possible, we will sell products that are:

• organically or bio-dynamically grown

• grown without chemically derived fertilizers and pesticides

• non-GMO

• fairly traded

• grown using IPM / sustainable agricultural practices

• minimally processed

• free of bovine growth hormones, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives & sweeteners, added nitrates and nitrites, hydrogenated oils, added MSG, high fructose corn syrup

• ecologically packaged (minimal packaging, recyclable, recycled, biodegradable…)

• produced with fair, safe and humane labor practices

• not tested on animals

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