by Brooke Anderson
Environmentally conscious shoppers put a great deal of consideration into
where their food comes from—but do they consider the grocery store itself?
After making a list, grabbing our reusable bags and doing some comparison
shopping, we chose three outlets with do-good community programs that
outshine their competition.
Jimbo's... Naturally!
Jimbo’s is a small chain of five San Diego stores. They are actively engaged in the community, including involvement with schools, environmental groups and charities. Additionally, their Wooden Nickel Program gives customers who reuse paper, plastic or cloth bags the choice of a nickel for their wallet or a wooden nickel for their community. Wooden nickels are tokens that can be used to donate to one of four nonprofit charities and customers are eager to participate, according to Jimbo’s director of marketing Kelly Hartford. “About 75 percent of those who reuse bags participate in the program, and the kids are especially excited to drop a wooden nickel into one of the donation boxes,” she says.
Hartford says 80 percent of her advertising budget is dedicated to supporting nonprofits. “It’s really important to Jim Someck [Jimbo’s owner] that multiple people, organizations, manufacturers and vendors are kind of a circle of life,” Hartford says. According to Hartford, the community reaps the benefits rather than Someck himself! “He’s a very caring individual,” she says.
For more information: jimbos.com
Ocean Beach People’s Organic Foods Market
This cooperative (co-op) grocery store is environmentally-driven all the way down to the bare skeleton of the walls. Because of reconstruction in 2001and 2002, the market is a sustainable building. Every part was purposeful, from the non-toxic and recycled building materials to the placement of the windows and skylights for minimizing the use of heating and air-conditioning.
Even the leftover scraps from the old building were put to good use: All wood that was still useable was donated to economically struggling areas in Tijuana for housing.
Amber Forest McHale, the newsletter editor and marketing director for the store, says being a co-op means Ocean Beach People’s Foods Market contributes to the health and longevity of the community. Co-ops are created in response to a community need, and therefore they won’t relocate out of the neighborhood for higher profit margins elsewhere, and they offer increased income—they pay fair wages and the profit stays in the community. Sustainability and community are a large part of the store’s values.
“Sustainability makes it possible for future generations to partake in the same resources that we have today: access to clean water, food, and a healthy ecosystem,” McHale says.
For more information: obpeoplesfood.coop
Trader Joe’s
A grocery store chain founded in Southern California, Trader Joe’s supports local communities through donations and events. In their “Birdies to Break Hunger” Program, Trader Joe’s teams up with members in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), donating 75 dollars with every birdie (scoring one stroke under par on a hole) to charities that provide food to Florida residents in need.
Wasting food is never on Trader Joe’s agenda. All food that is still safe to eat, but can no longer be sold, is donated to local food banks. This process happens on a constant, day-to-day basis.
For more information: traderjoes.com
Buying produce from stores such as these three not only supports the community but the positive changes the stores are creating. Check out your local grocery stores to see what sorts of changes they are making in your community!
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