The Directors of the Co-op have adopted the following Mission Statement and provisionally accepted the following Ends Policies. They are looking for interested members to comment both on the Policies, and on appropriate goals, visions, and directions for the Co-op. These policies are designed to answer the questions, "what difference will the Co-op make, for what people, at what cost?"

Our Mission, E (for Ends):
We build community with food and cooperative principles.
E1. We provide a full service grocery store that emphasizes healthful, local and organic food, while also supporting informed consumer choice.
A. We are pro-active in carrying and producing high-quality, and affordable, foods and products.
1. While "quality" has many interpretations, we recognize high-quality foods to have one or many of the following criteria: organic certification, high nutritional value, necessary for special diets, proven health benefits, lower levels of processing, relatively local production/harvest, democratic or cooperative ownership of production, diversity in food crops, and contributing to environmental and economic sustainability.
2. We also carry some foods that do not meet the criteria of quality defined above in order to provide service to our members who purchase those foods.
3. We strive to maintain highest standards of safety and cleanliness in food production and handling, and to assure that our facilities and systems enhance our ability to maintain these high standards. We will partner with vendors who hold to these standards.
4. When we purchase foods locally or non-locally, we do so in a way that supports strong local food economies.
B. We educate our community about important food and product issues.
1. Educational materials include but are not limited to the following: signage, labeling, newsletters, web sites, classes, speakers, events, books, and advertising that includes an educational component.
2. Our educational materials will be understandable, informative, factual and evidence-based.
3. We seek to fully inform our community about food issues such as ingredients, sources, systems of production/harvest, adverse health effects, and organic/natural alternatives.
4. Vendors as well as internal producers will be expected to provide a written list of nutrition facts, ingredients and location of production/harvest that is clear and easy to find.
C. We encourage members and customers to communicate their wishes regarding store food or products that we carry. In particular, we encourage members to communicate their wishes about foods to carry or education about foods currently carried.
1. Encouraged methods include: purchasing or not purchasing preferred/non-preferred foods and products at the Co-op; voting for Directors that represent your views; speaking with a department manager or staff person; using the Suggestion Box; and meeting with, writing a letter to, or sending and e-mail to the General Manager.
2. Our Boycott Policy exists as a direct action alternative, when the methods above have not satisfied the member(s).
D. We achieve our values stated above while balancing the diverse needs of our members and customers with our organizational standards of sound business practices. We practice sustainable business practices that will ensure that our store will survive.
E2. We are leaders in implementing ethical business practices.
A. We are responsible in our social and environmental practices.
B. We are responsible stewards of our assets.
C. We are a center of information about consumer issues.
E3. We are enriched by the community we make.
A. Our community is centered on members and ultimately includes staff, other co-ops, shoppers, suppliers, groups to which we donate, researchers, activists, the City of Davis and its residents, Yolo County and the cities in it, and the groups formed by County residents.
B. We support other community groups with our actions.
C. We support the development of co-ops.
D. We learn, and educate our members.
E4. We are enriched by actualizing our values within our organization.
A. The Co-op is human centered and includes its members, staff, volunteer member-workers, and shoppers, as well as independent contractors, suppliers, and other co-ops.
B. We are committed to providing the best possible customer service.
C. We are committed to building a learning organization skilled at creating, acquiring and transferring knowledge, and at modifying its behavior to reflect new knowledge and insights. Accordingly,
1. We are committed to training its employees in customer service, food and workplace safety, and knowledge of the Davis Food Co-op's mission.
2. We seek to fully inform its members and consumers regarding food issues, and organic and natural alternatives.
3. We seek to make effective use of technology.
D. We seek to establish a socially responsible work environment. Accordingly,
1. We seek to enrich employees by supporting achievement within the community.
2. We value our employees and therefore we strive to promote from within.
3. We seek to motivate our employees and volunteer member workers through recognition, responsibility, and advancement.
E. We seek to enhance job satisfaction and the achievement of daily excellence by acknowledging the value of every individual employee and the tasks they perform.
F. We seek to enhance volunteerism and the achievement of daily excellence by acknowledging the value of every individual volunteer and the tasks they perform.
E5. The Co-op is a good place to be.
A. We are a welcoming, responsive and pleasing environment which satisfies consumer needs.
B. Our place implements sustainable concepts.

For information about the Co-op Board's progress with policy governance, click here.

For more information about events and ways to participate, click to go back to Hot Topics.