Produce Manager Job Opening – Food Co-op, Port Townsend, WA
Are you a well-rounded local/organic foods/produce enthusiast with a passion for customer service? Do you have experience managing and supervising others? Working directly with farmers and local vendors? Are you looking for the stability of a job with excellent pay and benefits? Do you want to work at a successful natural grocery where your talents are appreciated & where you have opportunities to grow and make a positive impact? The Food Co-op is seeking a professional Produce Department Manager to [Read More]
Organically Grown Company Contributes to Group Donation of 46,000 LBS of Produce to Assist Northwest Hunger Relief Agency
PORTLAND, Ore. To help meet the surge in demand for food assistance during the COVID-19 response, organic produce growers donated more than 46,000-lbs of nourishing fruits and vegetables for five Northwest-based hunger relief agencies. Organically Grown Company (OGC), based in Portland and Eugene, organized this mass donation. In early April, OGC, an organic wholesale produce company, launched a giving initiative called “Project HOPE” (Healthy Organic Produce for Everyone) with 15 vendor-partners who quickly and generously responded with product donations. Project [Read More]
Customer Service + Logistics Coordinator Job Opening – Coconut Bliss, Eugene, OR
Job Title: Customer Service + Logistics Coordinator Location: Bliss Unlimited Headquarters in Eugene, OR Shift: M – F, 8 am – 4 pm FLSA: Non-Exempt Apply at: https://coconutbliss.bamboohr.com/jobs At Coconut Bliss, our vision is Blissful Experiences for All Beings. Our mission is to embody integrity through inspirational business practices and exceptional plant-based creations. We make organic, dairy-free frozen desserts that taste good without making you feel bad. We are a small team of dedicated people who enjoy working hard and [Read More]
Organically Grown Company Reminisces on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22, and we’ve been searching for ways to embrace it (at a safe distance) in the midst of coronavirus. Sometimes, we need to look back for hope, inspiration and a smile. As a business founded in the late 70s by a group of rag-tag, small-scale farmers drawn to counter-culture living, we get a little nostalgic for OGC history when Earth Day rolls around. While much has changed in the world, we’ve [Read More]
Cordelia Software + Design Develops Online Ordering Platform for Moscow Food Co-op
In light of the current COVID-19 crisis, Cordelia Software + Design recently launched its online ordering platform, Cloud Co-op, at the Moscow Food Co-op. Previous to launching, the Co-op was accepting curbside pickup orders through email (as many Co-ops are currently) and Cordelia’s app has greatly streamlined the process for them. The response from the co-op community has been overwhelmingly positive. Because of this, Cordelia wants to help other Co-ops and their communities as much as it can. They are [Read More]
Dr. Bronner’s announces $50,000 Cosmic Match For Psilocybin Therapy
by David Bronner – Cosmic Engagement Officer, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap As you may know, I have long been a strong supporter of drug policy reform in general and a huge supporter of the psilocybin therapy program proposed by IP 34 in Oregon. Everything they’re doing — bringing a healing approach to depression and anxiety, prioritizing training and safety in developing their program, leaning on the great research that shows that psilocybin therapy is a breakthrough treatment for those in [Read More]
Hummingbird Wholesale receives Outstanding Value Chain Award from National Co+op Grocer and Climate Collaborative
Eugene, Oregon—Hummingbird Wholesale was honored to receive the National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Climate Collaborative Award for Outstanding Value Chain for their innovative container deposit, return, and reuse program. This program, developed and facilitated by Organic food wholesale manufacturer and distributor, Hummingbird Wholesale, is unique in the food industry. In collaboration with its customers, Hummingbird has successfully surmounted many of the barriers to reusing packaging for their bulk products, rather than relying on disposable containers in much of their bulk [Read More]
Provender Voices: Reports from the Front Lines
by Abigail Harris – Executive Director, Provender Alliance Food is a necessity, not a luxury, and Provender members are on the front lines as essential workers. Last week Provender took an informal survey and asked members about their experiences, both from a logistics perspective and a personal perspective. Many took time from their busy lives to share what’s going on for them. Reports include: “Staff are crazy stressed but have been very supportive of each other – if they don’t get [Read More]
Provender Member Voices: From the Front Lines of Food & COVID-19
compiled by Abigail Harris – Executive Director, Provender Alliance Last week Provender sent out a short survey to Provender membership for an informal report of what it’s like for our members out “on the front lines.” Twenty-two members took time out from their busy work lives to share their experiences. When given the option to have their responses be anonymous, approximately 40% of those surveyed requested to have their names and company be [Read More]
Oregon Tilth’s COVID-19 Webinar: Using Lean Tools to Keep Food Businesses safe (and Running)
from Sarah Brown – Education and Advocacy Director, Oregon Tilth Presented on Thursday, April 2 at 12:00pm PST Right now, your employees and customers’ safety is top priority for your food or farm business. Adapting new practices into your workplace to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is a challenge. Lean manufacturing tools like “Gemba Walks” and “Poka Yoke” can be used to quickly evaluate your operation, and identify the most effective ways to integrate specific practices. Our upcoming webinar will [Read More]
Western SARE Accepting Applications for Research and Education Grant
Research & Education Pre-Proposals Applications for the Research and Education Pre-Proposal program is now open. Read the full Call for Proposal for criteria and directions for applying. The deadline for applying is May 22, 2020. Notification of status of the 2020 Research and Education Call for Pre-Proposals will be in late July 2020. This grant program involves scientists, agricultural producers, and others using interdisciplinary approaches to advance sustainable agriculture at local and regional levels. With the collaboration of producers, projects must integrate rigorous research [Read More]
Interview with Mark Mulcahy: Regenerative Retail Specialist
Mark Mulcahy is an award-winning retail consultant, educator, and organic advocate. He consults for co-ops, independent retailers, farmers, and produce distributors worldwide, and has presented numerous workshops at the Provender Alliance Annual Educational Conference over the years. Mark is the co-creator and presenter of the acclaimed Rising Stars leadership development course for natural food retailers which has trained over 2,500 managers, and Roots & Relationships, a fun, thought-provoking, interactive and inspiring journey into the unique legacy of food and its relationship and connection with [Read More]
Dr. Bronner’s Launches Regenerative Organic Certified Coconut Oil
Dr. Bronner’s debuts its first Regenerative Organic Certified product: Virgin Coconut Oil. A founding member of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, alongside Patagonia, Rodale, and other leading NGOs, farms, and brand partners, Dr. Bronner’s was among the 19 brands that participated in the Regenerative Organic Certified pilot program in 2019. Working in close partnership with Serendipol, the company’s coconut oil supplier in Sri Lanka, Dr. Bronner’s Virgin Coconut Oil achieved the Silver level of Regenerative Organic Certification. One of the first [Read More]
Sprague Now Offering EPA and FDA Approved Disinfectants Against Human Coronaviruses
by Geoffe Weibe – Regional Account Manager, Sprague Pest Solutions As we collectively work to mitigate risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our customers have inquired about Sprague’s ability to perform commercial disinfectant services. In response to this need, we have expanded our service offering to address this need. Our goal at Sprague has always been to work with our customers and communities to provide safer food, and protect the safety of the environments in which we all live [Read More]
I Harbor a Secret Hope
by Abigail Harris – Executive Director, Provender Alliance Amidst all the uncertainty with COVID-19 Pandemic right now, I harbor a secret hope. My longing is that all of this upheaval strengthens the human value placed upon quality and integrity in the food system that produces the nourishment we all eat: soil, ingredients, treatment of workers, and more, up and down the supply chain. In this Spring Journal issue, we feature two articles from Provender’s emerging VOICES Program (Voices of Independent [Read More]