Sound Consumer

At PCC, we believe the way humans treat farm animals is integral to our own general well-being and the health of our planet. We believe our animal welfare standards are among the strongest in the grocery industry.

Young farmers with student loan debt are having a hard time making student loan payments, and some haven’t pursued farming as a career because their salary as a farmer wouldn’t be enough to cover their student loan payments. A bill introduced in Congress would categorize farming as public service and would forgive payment on student loans of public servants after 10 years in the field.

Plums, peaches, nectarines — this month our produce departments are brimming with jewel-toned stone fruits, from Red Haven peaches to Black Friar plums. At PCC we’re reveling in all the ways to use them.

It takes a gallon of water to grow an almond — but almonds are far from the only food with a hefty water footprint. See how many gallons it takes to produce many favorite foods and beverages.

Read about Twin Springs Farm, Mark LaPierre Farms and Scott Leach Orchards — the local, organic farms that provide PCC with peaches, blueberries, cherries, nectarines and plums all summer.

The Canyon Park neighborhood in Bothell, Wash. will be home to a new PCC Natural Markets store in 2016.

PCC’s support for organics · Online delivery · Excessive packaging · Fair labor · Ingredients in beer and wine · Organic honey and maple syrup · Iron and calcium

More could eat locally · Sustainable vineyards help butterflies · Synthetic flavorings petition · “Organic” baby formula fraud? · Overfishing worsens sardine collapse · CO2 emissions zap plants’ protein · EPA sued over pesticides · GE salmon susceptible to disease · Hospital kitchen reducing GMOs · Artificial sweeteners in Waterways · White House orders GE review · General Mills organic investment · Probiotics reduce social anxiety?

Drought is bearing fruit for Washington’s wineries, while warm temperatures are threatening salmon, tea and shellfish. Learn also about the impact of the bird flu on eggs and what’s disgruntling halibut fishermen.

June board meeting report · 2015 CCMA · Ends Policies · Global Ends · Board recruiting ongoing