Diversity and inclusion

This article was originally published in March 2018

At PCC, we highly value diversity and inclusion and are working to implement these values in numerous ways. We are in the process of rolling out training for our leaders that seeks to strengthen and drive a culture of inclusion and advancement. In recruiting, we are always looking for new organizations to partner with and new communities to connect to.

We know that our strengths come from celebrating a wide array of voices and perspectives. It is not enough to develop a diverse staff; we also must create a culture in which all our staff and shoppers feel welcome and heard.

In honor of women’s month, this March Sound Consumer celebrates the role of women in creating a strong sustainable food system in the Pacific Northwest. Our cover story highlights some of the essential contributions that women leaders and activists have made in support of sustainable agriculture and food equity in our state. We are proud that 70 percent of our leadership team is women, and we continue to actively promote a culture in our co-op that celebrates diversity and seeks inclusion.

We are grateful to the many wonderful women producers we partner with at PCC and highlight many of them in this issue, including Angelique Saffle of Bodyceuticals, Lisa Jacobs of Jacobs Creamery, and Julie O’Brien of Firefly Kitchens – just to name a few. Read about their stories. We highlight the Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care company, where Rose and Olowo-n’djo Tchala hire women in Togo to collect and extract the raw shea butter used in their lotions and creams, empowering them to provide their skills and knowledge to the rest of the world and to rise out of poverty.

In this issue we also honor the importance of women’s health, providing specific suggestions for vitamins and supplements to support women’s health needs. Our nutrition picks and recipes are applicable to all but are particularly focused to support healthy diets for women.

Reminder:

In preparation for annual elections, please update your email and member information at pccmarkets.com/addresschange.

Also in this issue

Producer Partnerships

Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care – Empowering Women in Togo. Alaffia is one of only two Fair for Life certified body care organizations in the nation. In addition to creating amazing products, the company supports a wide range of Empowerment Projects, including several education-based projects, maternal health, eyeglasses and reforestation.

A farm crisis is everybody's crisis

As debates on the reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill are already underway, we share words of wisdom and warning from the former president of the National Family Farm Coalition. One key: we’re all in this together.

News bites, March 2018

A letter written on behalf of approximately 700,000 women working in agricultural fields and packing operations across the United States expressed the solidarity of Latina farmworkers with the women in Hollywood who have come forward with stories of sexual harassment and assault. The letter also highlights the high degree of harassment faced by female farmworkers in the United States and the risks they face in taking a stand.