Resources & Publications

Co-operative Related:

• The International Year of Cooperatives

  The International Year of Cooperatives in 2012 was intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation, and social integration. The Year also highlighted the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development. The Global Launch of the International Year of Cooperatives was mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 65/184.

• Cooperative Grocers Information Network (CGIN)

  Strengthens retail food cooperatives via collaboration and sharing of resources.

• National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)

  Helps provide legal and policy advocacy for cooperative business practices at a federal level, and also provides networking resources for common business needs.

• National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA)

  Go Co-ops! This umbrella organization of food co-ops nationwide provides vision, leadership, and resources to support the autonomous co-ops like us.

• Organic Consumers Association

  This consumers group supports campaigns for Health, Justice, Peace, Sustainability, and Democracy, with updates on Organics, Health Issues, Genetic Engineering, Food Safety, Fair Trade/ Social Justice, and Farm Issues.

• Stronger Together

  A consumer website developed by National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) for the “virtual chain” of more than 100 retail food co-ops nationwide. Includes tips for eating locally and sustainably, as well as information about cooperatives and topics within the industry.

Organic and Sustainable Agriculture:

• The Cornucopia Institute

  Seeking economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Through research, advocacy, and economic development, its goal is to empower farmers – partnered with consumers – in support of ecologically produced local, organic, and authentic food.

• Organic Consumers Association

  A public interest organization dedicated to building a healthy, safe, and sustainable system of food production and consumption. It is a global clearinghouse for information and grassroots technical assistance.

• Organic Trade Association

  Membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. Its mission is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade.

• Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

  Official website of the Oregon Tilth organic certification, which provides information about standards and regulations, as well as education and research into bio-dynamic, organic, and sustainable harvest.

• Provender Alliance

  Provides networking, outreach, and education to natural foods and related companies doing business in the Northwest. Members currently represent nearly 200 retailers, distributors, manufacturers, brokers, consultants, and individuals from the Northwest.

• The Rodale Institute

  Informs, encourages, equips, and inspires farmers with “farmer-to-farmer know-how”. Their goal is to assist and witness the emergence of 100,000 organic farmers in the U.S. and 1 million organic farmers worldwide, by the year 2013.

• Slow Food Skagit

  Slow Food Skagit is an educational organization that supports sustainable agriculture, local food production, heritage foods, and the pleasures of the table.

• Tilth Producers

  Provides support to organic, sustainable farming through education, networking, and research opportunities at a statewide level.

• USDA Organic

  Official U.S. government website concerning the USDA Organic certification label, as well as practices and standards.

Health & Nutrition Education:

• 5 A Day for Better Health Program

  A National Cancer Institute program that offers a simple, positive message — eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day for better health.

• Be Food Smart

  We always say if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. Our current food system is under siege from an onslaught of chemicals, pesticides, colorings, and other additives. Be Food Smart is a searchable database for those not-so-natural components found in the foods on the typical American grocery list.

• Celiac Disease Foundation

  A non-profit, public benefit corporation at the forefront of providing celiac disease education, awareness, advocacy, and support services.

• Choose my Plate

  The Center for Nutrition Policy, (a branch of the USDA) has developed a new set of dietary guidelines, which are demonstrated within an easy-to-use program that educates people on eating healthfully, making wise dietary choices, and understanding the importance of portion size.

• Delicious Living

  Since 1985, Delicious Living has been the leading consumer magazine in the natural products industry. Complimentary copies are available at the Co-op’s cashier check stands.

• Non-GMO Project

  A non-profit organization committed to preserving and building the non-GMO food supply, educating consumers, and providing verified non-genetically modified organism choices.

• Nourish Interactive – Fun Nutrition Games For Kids

  A free one-stop resource created by nutrition and health care professionals for fun nutrition games for kids, and interactive nutrition tools and tips for parents and health educators to use to promote healthy living for families. Available in both English and Spanish. Nutrition printables for kids.

• Vegetarian Resource Group

  Educates the public on vegetarianism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger.

Fair Trade:

• Global Exchange

  An international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political, and social justice. Founded in 1988, they have increased the US public’s global awareness while building partnerships worldwide.

• Oxfam

  A collaboration of 12 organizations working together as a global campaign force in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering, and injustice.

• TransFair USA

  An independent, third party certifier of Fair Trade practices in the U.S. They verify that the farmers who produce Fair Trade Certified products are paid a fair price.

Environment/Sustainability:

• Greenpeace

  A non-profit organization with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. Focuses on the most crucial worldwide threats to our planet’s biodiversity and environment.

• Environment News Service

  The original daily international wire service of the environment. Presents late-breaking environmental news in a fair and balanced manner.

• Business Alliance for Local Living Economies

  Supports positive change in local communities. Believing that all sustainability is local, they build upon the natural stewardship that local business owners have for their hometown.

• Sustainable Connections

  A Bellingham-based business network establishing and supporting a local living economy that sustains itself, our community, and a healthy environment.