The Co-op is committed to continually improving consumer selections of organically grown and natural products in ways that are sustainable, both environmentally and economically. Organically grown products are defined as those that meet or exceed rigid standards of the USDA certified organic program. Natural foods are defined as being free from synthetic additives.

Wellness Product Ordering Guidelines

The Wellness Manager will select products for sale in the Wellness Department using a set of priorities ranging from Top Level (1) to Mid Level (2) and finally to Lower Level (3).

Supplements

Top Level Priorities for Supplements include:

• Quality
  
• Nutritional Value
  
• Dietary needs/restrictions
• Customer requests
• Price

Mid Level Priorities for Supplements include:

• Product Movement
  
• Source (local, regional, USA, etc.)
  
• Manufacturer: small scale, cooperative, Fair Trade, conglomerate, etc.

Lower Level Priorities for Supplements include:

• Reliability of vendor
  
• Logistics involved in acquiring product

Herbs

Top Level Priorities for Herbs include:

• Source (local, regional, USA, etc.)
  
• Manufacturer: small scale, cooperative, fair Trade, conglomerate, etc.
  
• Growing methods: certified organic, Fair Trade, conventional, other
• Quality
• Nutritional value
• Dietary needs/restrictions

Mid Level Priorities for Herbs include:

• Customer requests
  
• Product movement
  

Lower Level Priorities for Herbs include:

• Price
• Reliability of vendor
• Logistics involved in acquiring product

Body Care

Top Level Priorities for Body Care include:

• Quality

Mid Level Priorities for Body Care include:

• Source (local, regional, USA, etc.)
• Manufacturer: small scale, cooperative, Fair Trade, conglomerate, etc.
• Customer requests
• Product movement

Lower Level Priorities for Body Care include:

• Price
• Reliability of vendor
• Logistics involved in acquiring product

Mercantile

Top Level Priorities fro Mercantile include:

• Quality
  
• Customer requests
  
• Seasonality

Mid Level Priorities for Mercantile include:

• Price
  
• Product movement
  
• Manufacturer: small scale, cooperative, Fair Trade, conglomerate, etc.

Lower Level Priorities for Mercantile include:

• Reliability of vendor
  
• Logistics involved in acquiring product

Click here for all of our departments’ ordering guidelines