Organic and Natural Foods...
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BriarPatch Merchandising Policy: Click here

Produce
Our fresh fruits and vegetables are certified organically grown, with only a few exceptions. Our selection is extensive, our standards high. We are proud to feature produce from local and regional farms whenever it's available.

Deli & Ready-to-Eat
Our deli offers a great introduction to our natural foods: fresh soups, sandwiches, salads, entrées, smoothies, and fresh juices made from the same high quality ingredients sold in our store. Vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free and raw dishes are available daily to accommodate specialty diets.

Dairy
We carry organic dairy products whenever possible, and only products from dairies that don't inject their animals with growth hormones. We carry local eggs seasonally, always cage-free.

Meat, Poultry, Seafood
We carry organic and natural meats and poultry, free of added hormones and antibiotics. We feature local, grass-fed meats. Seafood is sustainably caught and farmed.

Bulk Foods
Our extensive selection of bulk foods includes staples-grains, beans, flours, and oils-and lots more. Buying in bulk costs less and reduces packaging waste.

Grocery
We emphasize foods that are organically grown, whole and nutritious. We carry no products with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, additives or trans fats, and avoid genetically altered foods.

Wellness
Our natural and organic supplements and body care products are made from high quality ingredients and are not tested on animals. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to help you.

BRIARPATCH MERCHANDISING POLICY (adopted 1/07)

BriarPatch Co-op Community Market strives to provide high quality produce and merchandise for our owner-members and customers at all times. The following guidelines represent criteria for choosing and retaining product inventory that meet the standards set by the Merchandising Policy (Revised 1/15/2007), approved by the General Manager and the Board of Directors and in accordance with the Mission Statement of the BriarPatch Co-op.

The Merchandising Policy is a general guide for decisions regarding product selection for sale at BriarPatch. Product selection, purchasing and display will be conducted by department managers and staff as directed by the General Manager.

PART 1: PREFERRED CRITERIA

PART 2: PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE SOLD AT BRIARPATCH UNTIL BETTER ALTERNATIVES ARE FOUND OR MADE AVAILABLE

* Note: BriarPatch currently offers some products that reflect customer preference including several popular processed, convenience, and snack foods that may be less healthful but possibly a better choice than brands offered in general supermarkets.

PART 3: PRODUCTS TO BE AVOIDED

PART 4: PRODUCTS NEEDING MORE RESEARCH

1. Preferred Criteria: back to top
   
   Ideally all products on the BriarPatch shelves would meet these standards. Products that fall into one or more of these categories may be highlighted by promotional display, signage or shelf location – as determined by department managers – to emphasize BriarPatch product preference. Sale price promotions (ongoing or temporary) may be initiated to emphasize products meeting “preferred criteria” – as determined by General Manager and/or department managers. Products meeting “preferred criteria” may also be featured in special promotions (listed below).
   
   a. Produce and products produced using sustainable practices including organic agriculture
   b. Products produced from ecologically responsible processes
   c. Products that are locally produced and/or locally grown
   d. Products of small independent companies
   e. Products with minimal, recycled or recyclable packaging
   f. Products from companies that are socially responsible, including those that treat their employees fairly
   g. Products from collectively or cooperatively-owned businesses
   h. Foods that are whole
   i. Foods that are sold in bulk
   j. Foods that are 100% organic including both certified organic and functionally organic
   k. Foods that are minimally processed
   l. Foods that have few or no artificial additives
   m. Foods that are healthy alternatives to mainstream products
   
   Promotions to be developed through a cooperative process including department managers, Merchandising Committee and Marketing staff, with approval of the General Manager to emphasize “preferred” products may include:
   1) These items may be marked as preferred items on the shelf
   2) Pricing at a lower markup than more undesirable products
   3) Giving samples of the product
   4) Promoting the item by featuring it in advertising and the newsletter
   5) Carrying several sizes, brands, or varieties of the product
   6) Arranging volume discounts and other discounts from suppliers when possible
   7) Providing information about the product and ways to use it
   8) End cap displays
   9) Items meeting several “preferred criteria” may be added to the “BriarPatch Preferred Items”
   list/brochure, which may be made available to BriarPatch shoppers.
   
   
2. Products that may be sold at BriarPatch until better alternatives are found or made available: back to top
   
   Products falling into these categories are considered to have undesirable qualities and will be reviewed periodically by department managers or by the Merchandising Committee with the cooperation of department managers or general manager, and may be replaced by more desirable products if available. Products with “undesirable qualities” may be sold by BriarPatch under the following circumstances: customer demand, staple item with no desirable alternative currently available on the market, seasonal replacement for more desirable product, temporary vendor promotional item, substantial pricing difference when more desirable product is only available at a high price.
   
   The Merchandising Committee and Marketing staff may provide ongoing education for customers about possible health or environmental benefits from reducing consumption or using alternative ingredients.
   
   Customer education coordinated by department managers, the Merchandising Committee and the Marketing staff will be provided if changes in availability result in removing a current item from the shelves.
   
   a. Products in non-recyclable packaging
   b. Products with genetically modified or engineered material listed as minor ingredients
   or GMO status unavailable for minor ingredients
   c. Items from companies in transition to “no-GMO” status
   d. Non-organic foods
   e. Products made with refined white sugar or white flour
   
   
3. Products to be avoided: back to top
   
   These products are considered undesirable and BriarPatch will make every effort to avoid products with these criteria. As labeling and ingredient standards and certifications change, BriarPatch will continue to actively screen products with the intent of providing only the best available selection for our customers.
   
   a. Products with shelf-packaging made from styrofoam (shipping packaging materials are an exception when no alternative is available)
   b. Products from companies that use animals for testing
   c. Products from companies that have been determined to raise or treat animals inhumanely (determined on individual case basis)
   d. Products containing genetically modified or engineered material listed as a main ingredient
   e. High fructose corn syrup
   f. Products containing artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or other artificial ingredients
   g. Products containing nitrates
   h. Irradiated products
   i. Processed tobacco products
   j. Dairy products containing rBGH
   k. Meat products treated with hormones or antibiotics
   l. Products containing trans fats/partially hydrogenated oils
   
   
4. Products needing more research:
   
   Ongoing research on these products will be conducted by the Merchandising Committee and reported to the General Manager. Educational materials and/or a change in policy related to these items may result from research findings. Products containing these ingredients are currently on the shelves at BriarPatch.
   
   a. Fractionated oils
   b. “Natural” flavors / colors
   

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Addendum to Policy (adopted 5/08) Product integrity review process for current store inventory
Product integrity may be reviewed as necessary on a case by case basis.
Any product or product safety/integrity concern may be brought to the attention of store staff by any employee, owner-member or customer.
Concerns relating to specific products currently on store shelves may be directed to the department managers.  Suggestion forms are available at the Customer Service window at the front of the store.
Concerns relating to general product or food safety or Merchandising Policy issues may be directed to the Merchandising Committee.  Suggestion forms are available at the Customer Service window or email comments may be sent to

info@briarpatch.coop.

Part One:  Product Review Procedure
Product concerns brought to the attention of department managers will be considered in the following manner:
1.  A department manager or assigned staff will review product:  (review ingredients, country of origin, packaging, or other factors).  Confirmation of integrity may be researched by contacting a vendor or manufacturer, if needed.  A department manager may ask for assistance with this task from the Merchandising Committee if no staff is available.
2.  A department manager will make a decision to:
            a) discontinue the product (following procedure outlined below).
            b) refer the product to the Merchandising Committee for further research.
            c) retain product if it is acceptable (based on Merchandising Policy criteria).
If there are additional concerns with a department manager’s decision, they may be referred to the AdCore and the Merchandising Committee.

General concerns relating to the Merchandising Policy, issues affecting food safety or specific product issues referred to the committee by a department manager will be reviewed by the Merchandising Committee.  The committee may:
1.  research the products or concerns, prioritizing requests as necessary.
2.  update the Merchandising Policy to reflect current research and issues.
3.  if it is clear without research that the products are not in conflict with the current Merchandising Policy, choose to take no action.
If committee research shows a conflict with the existing Merchandising Policy, the Merchandising Committee may meet with the AdCore and/or a department manager to make recommendations for action.

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Part Two:  Discontinuing Products
1. If a decision is made by a department manager to discontinue a product due to a Merchandising Policy concern, a small sign will be placed on the shelf to inform customers of the change. 
Specific wording may be modified to fit the product/issue.  The department manager will provide wording for signs to be produced by the Marketing department.

            (generic template for shelf sign:)
“                                  ” is being discontinued.
BriarPatch bases our product selection on our Merchandising Policy criteria to offer the highest quality food and products to our customers. In this effort, we have chosen to discontinue and are in the process of phasing out “                           ”.   We offer other similar products as an alternative to this one.

           
Barbara’s Cheese Puffs are being discontinued.
BriarPatch supports local and worldwide efforts to promote products that feature organically grown and non-genetically modified corn.
In this effort, we have chosen to discontinue and are in the process of phasing out Barbara’s Cheese Puffs and other products with non-organic corn or soy as main ingredients.
We offer cheese puffs made with organic corn as an alternative to Barbara’s.

2.  A department manager will decide whether to pull the product from the shelf immediately or to let the current product inventory sell out.
3.  Appropriate identification on shelf tags will alert staff not to reorder.
4.  After current product inventory is sold out or pulled from shelf, the following label will be placed on shelf where the discontinued product once was.  This sign will remain for one month.
The contact information for the manufacturer(s) will be placed on the bulletin board at the front of the store so that customers may contact the company regarding the product of concern.

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(generic template for shelf sign:)
          Where are the “                                     ” ?
            BriarPatch bases our product selection on our Merchandising Policy criteria to offer                        the highest quality food and products to our customers.
            In this effort, we have chosen to discontinue and are in the process of phasing out               “                           ”.   We offer other similar products as an alternative to this one.
             Send a message…
If a product you are familiar with has disappeared from our shelves, please contact the manufacturer to encourage them to change their production policies.  A list of discontinued products and contact information is posted on the information board near the checkstands.
             Thank you for joining us in this effort!
              (list contact information for manufacturer)

(example of shelf sign:)
        Where are the Barbara’s Cheese Puffs?
BriarPatch supports local and worldwide efforts to promote products that feature organically grown and non-genetically modified corn.
In this effort, we have chosen to discontinue Barbara’s Cheese Puffs and other products with non-organic corn or soy as main ingredients.
We offer cheese puffs made with organic corn as an alternative to Barbara’s.
Send a message…
If a product you are familiar with has disappeared from our shelves, please contact the manufacturer to encourage them to stop producing food products with genetically engineered corn. A list of discontinued products and contact information is posted on the information board near the checkstands.
Thank you for joining us in this effort!
                                        Attn.: Product Information
                                        Barbara’s Bakery Products
                                        info@barbarasbakery.com
                                        customerservice@worldpantry.com
                                        Barbara’s Bakery
                                        c/o WorldPantry.com, Inc.
                                        601 22nd St., San Francisco, CA 94107
                                        707-765-2273

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Addendum BriarPatch Co-op Non-GMO Promotional Policy

In support of our ongoing efforts to encourage manufacturers to eliminate GMOs from their products, BriarPatch will be implementing the promotional policy stated below for store promotions we control. Excepted will be Co+op Deals program sales and coupons, which are put together by the National Cooperative Grocers Association.

At-Risk Foods
BriarPatch will not promote any item that contains an ingredient that is at risk for GMO contamination unless that product is certified organic (95% or more organic ingredients) or unless that product is verified as non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. Any non-GMO claims made by the manufacturer on their packaging must be verified by the Non-GMO Project. (Ingredients that are currently at-risk for GMO contamination are primarily alfalfa, beet, canola, corn, and soy.)

Non-GMO Claims
Going forward, BriarPatch will make every effort not to carry, and will not promote any product that has an unsubstantiated non-GMO claim on its packaging or ingredient panel. Only those items that are verified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project will be eligible for promotion.

Preferential Shelf Placement
Preferential shelf placement will be given to those items that are certified organic and/or are certified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. All other things being equal, a product that contains at-risk ingredients and that is not organic or certified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project will be given less advantageous shelf placement than products that are certified organic or certified non-GMO.

Definition of Promotions
For the purposes of this policy, promotions will be defined as any effort that brings attention to the product in question. Specifically, this means that a product prohibited from promotions for GMO reasons:
• Will not be placed in our Owner Specials program.
• Will not be placed in our BriarPatch Basics program.
• Will not be eligible for demos.
• Will not be merchandised in case stacks or on end-caps.
• Will not be placed in a gift basket.
• Will not be allowed to place an informational article in our newsletter.
• Will not be allowed to host or conduct, or to be promoted in, any educational seminars or cooking classes.
• Will not be included in BriarPatch advertisements.

Lastly, we will minimize the opportunities for shelf sales on at-risk items, but we will reserve the right to run sales on any item in order to pass along to shoppers the savings we receive.

This policy is effective January 1, 2012 and will be amended as needed and as circumstances dictate. While we understand that this policy is rather strong, we feel it is a necessary step as a means of encouraging manufacturers to use organic ingredients or to get verified as non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project (or hopefully both). We are taking this step for the integrity of our industry, the future of our food supply, and the health of our children.