PCC vendors and shoppers support the PCC Farmland Trust

By Eli Penberthy

This article was originally published in July 2009

PCC Natural Markets founded the PCC Farmland Trust in 1999 as a way to preserve threatened farmland in Washington and move it into organic production. While the Farmland Trust is an independent, community supported nonprofit organization, over the past decade, PCC Natural Markets — and its vendors and shoppers — have supported the trust in many important ways, allowing both the trust and the co-op to flourish as a result of the partnership.

One way PCC supports the Farmland Trust is through a vendor partnership program. More than 30 PCC vendors contribute to the trust — so when you buy products from these companies, a portion of your purchase will go toward saving local, organic farmland.

PCC Farmland Trust shelf tag

This year, eight PCC vendors each have pledged $2,500 to the trust, including Columbia Gorge Organic, Frontier Co-op, Healthy Way Organic Bread, Odwalla, Stiebrs Farms, Stonyfield Farm, Tony’s Coffees & Teas, Inc., and Choice/Granum Organic Tea. Other companies — including many beer and wine companies — donate a percentage of their PCC sales to the Farmland Trust.

Like individual donors, vendors who contribute to the Farmland Trust do so not for the promotional benefit but because they believe in the importance of the trust’s mission.

To find out more about all the vendors that contribute, and to learn about our current beer and wine vendor promotions, visit pccfarmlandtrust.org. You also can visit the Farmland Trust booth and learn more at the Edmonds Healthy Living Fair, August 22 and 23.

Identifying products from companies that support the trust is easy when you shop at PCC stores — just look for the green Farmland Trust shelf tags marking products that benefit the trust’s work. Purchasing products from these companies is one simple way to contribute to the trust in a way that benefits PCC vendors and you as well!

Also in this issue

Insights by Goldie: Knowledge is power: We hold the key to sustainable food

The Cornucopia Institute recently released a new report: Behind the Bean: The heroes and charlatans of the natural and organic soy foods industry. It aims to address the “social, environmental and health impacts of soy,” and to “lift the veil on the widespread importation of soybeans from China and the processing of soy foods labeled as ‘natural’ with toxic chemicals.”

Bicycles for Education

This month PCC’s community relations department is sponsoring another Bicycles for Education drive. Our goal is to collect 900 bicycles and to help recruit 100 volunteers to prepare the bikes for shipment.

Your co-op, July 2009

PCC 2009 election results, Board meeting report