From the Executive Director’s Desk
by Abigail Harris You know the stories about innocent high school sweethearts who lose touch after graduation, go on to live their lives, re-meet years later, fall in love for real, and create a meaningful future together? Well, that’s me and you (the Provender Alliance Community and larger natural products trade). A long time ago, I served on CCOF’s marketing committee to contribute to a movement in which I believe. I was fresh out of college and definitely the youngest [Read More]
From the Board of Directors
by Rachel Mitrani, Board Treasurer Greetings to the Provender Community! It is with great honor and sadness that I am writing my final journal entry as a board member for the Provender Alliance. I have served this community for 6 years on the board and a few years prior as a volunteer. It has been an experience I will treasure for so many reasons. First and foremost, the long-lasting relationships and friendships I have gained are priceless. I have also [Read More]
Board Candidate Statements
Provender holds elections for our Board of Directors yearly and it’s that time of year. A designated person from each member organization should have received an electronic ballot last week. The Nominating Committee has diligently and carefully screened these candidates. This is the candidates’ opportunity to speak to you about their interest in serving on the board. These statements will also appear on the ballot. Jenica Caudill – Fair World Project Please share a little bit about yourself [Read More]
The Silence of Our Friends – Guest Perspective from Real Organic Project
(Editor’s note: Provender Alliance subscribes to many emails, newsletters, and journals within the natural foods & products trade. This email from Dave Chapman, Executive Director of Real Organic Project, stands out for voicing heartfelt and thought-provoking questions.) by Dave Chapman – Executive Director, Real Organic Project One of our inspectors for Real Organic Project got a letter a few weeks ago. It brought up some important concerns that I want to address. Their letter is friendly and respectful. This is [Read More]
Sustainable Packaging: From Petroleum To Plants
by PCC Sound Consumer PCC’s plastic footprint just got a lot lighter. Company-wide, PCC has switched deli containers from petroleum-based plastic to plant-based compostables. It may sound like a small change, but those clear containers make up more than 80% of the petroleum-based plastic pieces used in PCC’s deli each year. This move is estimated to eliminate more than 8 million pieces of petroleum-based plastic a year. The impact will grow even larger as we open five new stores and [Read More]
Fair World Project Redesigns Reference Guide to Fair Trade Labels
by Fair World Project Are you a decision-maker for purchases at your natural foods co-op or grocery store, or simply want to be an informed consumer making conscious choices with the dollars you spend? If so, Fair World Project’s Reference Guide to Fair Trade Labels will help you with those decisions. This updated reference guide has been newly redesigned. It is now easier to understand and includes letter grades to rank each label on key criteria, based on the analysis [Read More]
Staffing the Point-of-Sale Function
by Carolee Colter, Consultant – Columinate Once retail stores reach a point where it no longer works to have every buyer maintain the prices for their own products in the point-of-sale (POS) system, the question arises—how shall we staff the POS function? Who will enter and manage items and prices to keep the POS system current so that the front-end staff can quickly and accurately check out customers and the departments can track their margins? Should the POS and [Read More]
Agricultural Innovation in the Balkans
By Jennifer Gerrity, COO of Mountain Rose Herbs A new approach to farming has taken root alongside this centuries-old trade, creating new opportunities and ensuring high-quality herbs continue to thrive in this pristine land. When it comes to biodiversity, Bulgaria is one of the richest countries in Europe, its abundant botanical offerings protected by a unique and strictly enforced government system (through its Ministry of Environment and Water) designed to ensure the survival of its habitats, flora, and fauna. Many [Read More]
Screen Time Overload and Scientific Aromatherapy
by Amy Pereira BS, CHNC, RYT-200, C-MI Despite the amazing technological advancements that benefit us, there’s a delicate balance to strike and a time and a place to put down the tech. A recent study from Common Sense Media shows that screen time use for entertainment is at an all-time high for both children and adults alike. According to their research, today’s innately tech-savvy children from 12-18 years of age spend an average of 9 hours a day in front [Read More]
Is Fair Trade Helping Workers?
By Anna Canning, Fair World Project “Fair Trade Helps Farmers, But Not Their Hired Workers.” That was the headline of a much-circulated article a few weeks ago. Like many headlines, there is a lot of nuance lost in the telling—and a kernel of truth. The study in question, “Effects of Fairtrade on the livelihoods of poor rural workers,” inaccessible without academic or press credentials, looked at cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire who were members of fair trade certified cooperatives and [Read More]
A Little Bit of Praise Goes a Long Way
by Mark Mulcahy, Consultant – Organic Options Most of us would love it if our new and part-time employees would stick around and be a positive part of our crew for a long time. It saves us time and money, can create a better shopping environment and is definitely better for morale. In fact, those who really like working at our store often become our next round of managers. There are several things you can do to keep them [Read More]
New Labels Hope To Enhance What “Organic” Can Mean
By Max Goldberg, guest contributor Sound Consumer September 2019 We’re approaching a historic time for the organic industry. After nearly 20 years of the federal government overseeing the National Organic Program, two new organizations—each one powerful in its own way—are trying to enhance what “organic” can mean. Both organizations are introducing stringent new labels meant as add-ons to the existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal. While the USDA organic seal remains the only organic label regulated and enforced [Read More]
Green Living Journal Fall Issue
The Fall issue of the Green Living Journal is now on the Street at over 650 locations, as well as online. This issue’s theme is “Changing Direction”.Read the full issue of articles here.
Organic Farmers Association Urges U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to Keep Genetic Engineering Out of Organic
edited reprint from a letter by Kate Mendenhall, Organic Farmers Association Note: Provender Alliance signed on as an organization to endorse the OFA letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of Department of Agriculture (listed farther below). On July 17th at the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research hearing, Under Secretary Greg Ibach said that he was interested in considering new technologies like gene-editing in organics. The Organic Farmers Association is disturbed by this comment. While genetic [Read More]
Free Herbalism Workshops in Eugene on October 13 – Hosted by Mountain Rose Herbs
Free Herbalism Workshops in Eugene, OR on October 13: Featuring Expert Herbalists Nicole Telkes and Doug Elliot Mountain Rose Herbs (MRH), is proud to present its 13th Free Herbalism Project at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum on Sunday, October 13 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Free Herbalism Project is a full day of herbal education, live music, food vendors, and all the organic tea you can drink. Nicole Telkes (pronounced: Tell-KISH) will be sharing her passion surrounding Fire Cider [Read More]