The latest update of major corporate ownership and involvement in the organic food sector is now out. The chart graphically focuses on the organic brands with ties to the top 25 food processors in North America. Source: The Cornucopia Institute, http://www.cornucopia.org/who-owns-organic/
Seek out product produced, manufactured or distributed locally
GBCFC supports other local businesses through the purchasing and promotion of their products when possible as a means of building community and local commerce. GBCFC will strive to work with and support as much local business as practically possible within the framework of our mission purpose and product buying guidelines.
Seek out product with the least environmental impact as possible.
GBCFC will endeavor to promote low-impact living by prioritizing bulk, organic and/or local products; limiting the number of products sold in non-recyclable or energy intensive packaging; and encouraging recycling and use of recycled containers. In the non-foods department, we will carry primarily biodegradable products; post-consumer recycled and non-dyed paper products; low and no-phosphate detergents; and health and body care products which are not tested on laboratory animals.
Seek out product that is free of genetically modified ingredients.
GBCFC will make every effort to provide our customers with products that, to the best of our knowledge, do not contain genetically engineered ingredients; and to provide customers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
Seek out product that contains all or mostly organic ingredients and/or organically grown
Organically grown and produced food products will be prioritized and made available at GBCFC. We will always carry organic unless one of the following factors tips the balance in favor of non-organic: 1) Locally grown/produced; 2) Ecological/cultural/ political factors; 3) Lack of availability of a comparable organic product, yet consistent with the rest of the product buying guidelines.
Seek out product that is free of unnecessary additives or preservatives, free of overly processed ingredients (i.e. hydrolyzed soy protein, soy protein isolate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (transfats).
GBCF will prioritize whole foods, those with a minimum of processing and refining. GBCFC will make efforts to not carry products containing artificial coloring, preservatives, and artificial flavorings or any ingredients known to be harmful.
Seek out product that has member appeal or demand.
GBCFC will make every effort to carry product to meet the unique and diverse needs and desires of our members and community at large within the framework of our mission purpose.
Seek out product that is not available at conventional grocery stores
As the health food industry is in rapid growth and increasingly made available through conventional chain markets, GBCFC will make efforts to research and carry product that is unique to smaller natural foods operations.
Seek out companies that are not owned by giant corporations
Though it is increasingly difficult to find product that is not blatantly or quietly owned by large corporate entities, GBCFC will make efforts to seek out companies where possible, that are smaller, sustainable and mindfully ran, of better quality and not traded publicly, as share holder value most often supersedes quality and integrity.
Seek out companies with high reputability within the industry, integrity in what they produce and honesty in how they conduct business
GBCF will prioritize products produced and distributed by companies whose politics and procedures are in harmony with our mission purpose. When a company’s practices are in clear contradiction to these principles, we will make every effort to find alternative sources for their products.
