Product Selection & Guidelines

The CoG caters to the eating habits of the entire community: omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists.

However, we are committed to offering only organic, minimally processed, and/or locally sourced foods and goods.

We currently offer a selection of dry, canned and bottled products, plus health and beauty and household goods. We have a minimal selection of refrigerated items, and we hope to have bulk items available later this year.

CoG members play an integral role in selecting items. Members are welcome to suggest new items and critique those carried in the store. Once a month, all item suggestions are reviewed by the CoG Products Committee and weighed against our sustainability guidelines:

1. Ecologically Sound
This means the production of this product has enhanced rather than depleted the soil or environment where it is grown. It may be certified organic or biodynamic or individually assessed by our own sustainability committee. We do not accept products that have been genetically engineered or require any chemicals or artificial fertilizers to be grown.

2. Whole Foods
This means the integrity of the food is maintained, by little or no processing. We promote unrefined, clean foods that are nutritious and of a high quality. (Foods with no additives, artificial heating/drying, freezing or re-hydrating except in situations where a minimal amount of processing is necessary in order to meet the USDA standards for food safety).

3. Animal Care
This means the product is cruelty free. The animals involved are treated humanely, with respect and live in healthy conditions (cage free, high quality diets, no antibiotics, artificial hormones or genetic engineering).

4. Seasonal
This means the product is in season when we buy it and comes from a very local source supporting regional farmers and producers. It is fresh and the seasonality encourages us to have diverse and flexible diets that support our health and local culture.

5. Local
We carry local products (within a 250 mile radius) in order to reduce food miles, transportation costs, and to support the local economy. However products considered local may include some ingredients from further away which are processed here in the Bay Area such as bread from a local bakery whose business we want to support.

6. Diversity
This product increases either the biodiversity or cultural diversity (or both) of choice at the co-op. It is either from a rare or heritage variety of plant or animal, or this product reflects the cultural diversity of different tastes and traditions.

7. Economic Justice
This product comes from an operation which pays a living and fair wage to all the workers involved. The company producing the product has either a) unionized workforce b) capacity building for workers c) social justice agenda. We support international products that are certified ‘Fair Trade’.

8. Relationship
This product brings with it an evolving relationship between the producers and the consumers. We can buy it directly therefore removing the ‘middle man’ that helps to maintain a fair price for all.

9. Reduced Packaging
The product comes with the least packaging material possible. It can be reused or locally recycled although we seek to avoid plastic. We favor products that do not demand any landfill space and preferably our members can bring their own containers for refills.

Suggest a new product:

Use this link to sugest a new product.

admin | datetime July 13, 2009 2:43 pm

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