Our Procurement Policy

I am often asked how decisions are made as to what produce to carry in the co-op.  I will try to give you my best answer on this.

Our Procurement Standards: ( This information can be read and downloaded here )

These are the co-opʼs basic guidelines that we will be using when making our purchasing decisions…

    • Fresh, healthy, seasonal produce, good appearance/presentation/taste/smell. No GMOs, CAFOs, harmful chemicals and harmful labor practices.
    • Local First – Food and products grown and/or processed within 150 miles of Gainesville then Regional – the borders of Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. We will supplement, when necessary, with the best, most wholesome, environmentally sensitive and socially responsible foods and products available. In addition, weʼll continuously work with you to expand the variety and development of new local foods and food products.
    • Production Methods and Certifications. Transparency is important to the Citizenʼs Co-op and will be a foundation in providing pertinent information to our members about the food they eat and how it was grown and prepared.
    • Co-op Membership. It is not mandatory to be a member of the co-op to sell to the co-op, however our Producer Members receive additional membership benefits and considerations ( see Producer Membership Benefits ).
  • Pricing

Obviously in an ideal situation, we would always have locally grown items in our store however that is not always the case.  For instance in August and September we are in transition time between growing seasons and while we may be used to some great local blueberries or Spring Song Organics’ popular Kale, it doesn’t last forever and it is then we begin to make decisions to extend our radius from local to statewide, then further to regional and beyond.

In making the decision as to how far to extend our buying radius, your input is very important.  That is why I will have polls like the one in the right column.  There will always be an important decision to make when considering the needs of the community as far as their procurement values and the needs of the co-op and the financial responsibility it has to it’s members to run a financially sound business.  Some brief examples…

    • If we only carried locally grown items, our shelves would be bare certain times of the year, placing a greater burden on the non-produce area to make up for the revenue loss from lack of produce sales.
  • If we carried only certified organic produce it would eliminate some very fine growers in our area who, while they may grow organically, have not gone through the certification process.

Your feedback from polls will give the co-op a better perspective on your needs as we shape our procurement standards to better serve our community!  You can always contact me at producers@citizensco-op.com, see you at the store!