Product Guidelines

Product Selection Vision Statement

We, the members of the Newark Community Cooperative, seek to be a community that is humane, healthful, and responsible, that is based on ecological, holistic, and cooperative principles, and that supports each of us as independent, free-thinking members of a democratic organization. Cooperation is the key.

Product Selection Guidelines

In support of our Vision Statement, we give strong preference to products that are:

• Fresh, healthy and nutritious
• Certified organically grown, whenever possible
• Locally produced, when available
• Produced utilizing practices that support sustainable agriculture
• Bio-dynamically grown, whenever possible
• Seasonal, as available
• Foods free from preservatives, hormones, additives, antibiotics, synthetic chemicals, toxins and non-irradiated ingredients, and genetically modified ingredients (GMOs)
• Raised using sound animal husbandry and humane practices
• Produced by manufacturers who do not utilize animal testing
• Non-exploitatively produced
• Fair Trade Certified
• Special diet foods and alternatives to commonly allergenic foods and products, such as products that are wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, macrobiotic, raw, etc.
• Bulk or minimally packaged with materials that are manufactured and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner
• Minimally processed
• Whole grains 
• Variety
• Desired by our members and shoppers

Exceptions

• Certain products will be excluded from the Product Selection Guidelines due to customer demand, specific customer needs, or in lieu of conclusive research to substantiate claims that the product or a product ingredient is harmful.
• Special orders are exempt of the Product Selection Guidelines.

Additionally, Newark Natural Foods Co-op...

• Stays informed on health and safety issues concerning foods and non-food products and responds to them
• Helps educate its members and community about healthy foods and products
• Provides ingredient, nutritional information and manufacturing processes for all products, as available
• Labels products with unhealthful ingredients
• Reviews and considers customer requests

The Product Selection Guidelines may be amended by the Product Selection Committee with notification to the membership of the Newark Community Cooperative.  The Product Selection Guidelines will be reviewed annually by the Co-op's Board of Stewards.