LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At Natural
Grocers, America's Organic Headquarters®, Earth Day is about every
day practices that help achieve a sustainable future for all.
As a leader in retail sustainability, Natural Grocers has long
instituted innovative sustainable and regenerative standards and
continuously evaluates policies, guidelines and the products
carried in its stores based on how they impact the planet.
For Natural Grocers, caring for the planet and its communities
extends beyond Earth Day and eco-friendly practices – it is
anchored in the natural and organic grocery store's founding story.
Inspired by their own health journey, Margaret and Philip Isely founded Natural
Grocers in 1955 with the mission to help improve the health and
wellbeing of its communities and help all families to thrive.
Today, the Isely family believes that everyone deserves to have
access to fresh, affordable high-quality foods, household
essentials and supplements, especially in these times of
uncertainty.
Honoring Earth Day 2020 by Supporting Local Communities'
Health
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on
April 22, 2020, Natural Grocers will
donate over $50,000 in gift cards to
local food banks to help ensure that families in need, including
those who have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic, can
have access to high-quality, healthy, nutrient-dense foods which
are supportive to their immune systems and health. In addition to
the donated gift cards, Natural Grocers will donate $1.00 to local food banks for every Ladybug Zip
Pouch reusable bag (retail $1.99)
sold throughout the month of April.
From April 21-May 31, 2020 Natural
Grocers invites the community to take or renew the #LadyBugLove
pledge. Those who take the pledge commit to not using lawn and
garden chemicals that harm ladybugs and other beneficial insects,
which play a crucial role in the stability of the food supply, and
to support 100% organic produce. For every #LadyBugLove pledge
signed, whether it's a first-time signer or a renewed pledge from
last year, Natural Grocers will donate $1.00, up to a total donation of $25,000 in gift cards, to local food banks.
"Earth Day has always been a meaningful day for Natural
Grocers," said Natural Grocers' Co-President Kemper Isely. "Typically, we would have a large
celebration for our communities, but right now protecting our
good4uSM Crew and customers is of the utmost importance.
We know our communities have been hit hard by the Coronavirus
crisis, so this year we are honoring Earth Day by providing healthy
essentials to those in need through donations to local food banks.
Now more than ever, grocery stores play a pivotal role in the food
chain, a system that is essential to our health and
wellbeing. Natural Grocers is proud to support our
communities during this crucial time."
A Sustainable Future For All
A sustainable future must focus on the way food is grown. The
methodology of growing food greatly contributes to how healthy the
final product is – relying on sustainable and regenerative methods
and eliminating the use of chemical substances that are deleterious
to health leads to foods that are higher in nutrients and are at
the core to building a healthy immune system and immune
competence.
Natural Grocers requires its farmers, producers and vendors,
including its Natural Grocers Brand Products producers, to meet
rigorous regenerative and sustainable standards. By setting these
standards and partnering with those who meet them, Natural Grocers
bolsters the health of local communities and the planet as a whole
and fosters environmental health, which in turn supports and
improves human health and ensures economic viability for future
generations.
Every product on Natural Grocers' shelves must pass through a
rigorous screening and approval process, which means that each
store carries only the highest quality, nutritious groceries
produced using sustainable and regenerative practices. Natural
Grocers has always been and remains committed to providing Always
AffordableSM prices so that everyone can afford to take
care of their health by buying fresh, 100-percent organic produce,
top-quality natural and organic groceries, supplements and
essential household items.
"We believe that everyone should have access to the healthiest
foods that are produced in a way that provides value in terms of
human health and economic health," said Heather Isely, Natural Grocers Executive Vice
President. "Providing healthy, sustainably produced foods that are
affordable to our communities is what Natural Grocers does every
day, and it's how we support a healthy planet, provide
our neighbors and loved ones nourishing foods and help ensure
economic viability and a sustainable future for all. Amidst
this crisis, when so many are struggling, it is even more important
that people have access to healthy foods to support their overall
health and immune systems."
Leaders in Retail Sustainability
As early pioneers in the elimination of single-use plastic bags
from checkout lanes, Natural Grocers stopped offering plastic bags
in 2009 and began donating 5 cents to
local food banks every time a customer shops with a reusable bag.
To date, Natural Grocers has prevented an estimated 360 million
bags from ending up in landfills and has donated over $1.3 million to local food banks, which has
provided more than 4 million meals to those in need.
In 2020, Natural Grocers eliminated single-use plastic bags in
its 100% organic produce department. Customers can now choose
from compostable BioBags® or paper bags made from 100%
recycled paper, which are both recyclable and compostable, for
their organic produce.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, customers may continue to bring
in reusable bags when they shop at Natural Grocers. Protective
measures have been put in place to reduce human-to-human contact
and maintain a sanitary environment, including asking customers to
bag their own groceries and cleaning cashier stands anytime a
customer places personal property on the stand, whether it be a
reusable bag, a purse, a lunch box, or a wallet. There is no
evidence suggesting that reusable bags are more likely to spread
the virus, and there is no specific guidance regarding reusable
bags from the CDC or FDA at this time.
Below are just some of the innovative and industry-leading
standards Natural Grocers has established to help ensure
regeneration, sustainability and access to a healthier lifestyle
for all:
- Sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices:
Natural Grocers sells only 100% organic produce, non-GMO and
organic pre-packaged bulk, 100% pasture-based dairy, 100%
free-range eggs, and 100% humanely and sustainably raised meats,
produced without antibiotics, hormones and other growth
promoters.
- Certified Organic Food Handlers: All Natural Grocers
stores are inspected annually by an organic certifying agency to
ensure that they are only using organic approved processes and
cleaning products. This certification, plus the company's
commitment to selling only 100% organic produce, guarantees the
integrity of their 100% certified organic produce from farm to
basket to table.
- Formaldehyde-free and non-toxic materials used in store
construction: Natural Grocers' construction products do not
contain any formaldehyde and the company is eliminating and
reducing indoor air pollutants by using sustainable non-toxic
construction materials, including no and low-VOC (volatile organic
chemical) paint.
- Reducing carbon footprint and implementing greener
practices: Natural Grocers' eco-friendly practices include
green heating and cooling practices, installing LED lighting,
repurposing existing buildings whenever possible for new stores,
and utilizing non-toxic cleaning and sanitizing products.
- Recycling and upcycling: Natural Grocers' recycling
practices include offering reused cardboard boxes at check out,
recycling shipping pallets and plastic, composting at select stores
and using minimum packaging on Natural Grocers brand products
To locate the closest Natural Grocers store, visit the store
directory.
For all Natural Grocers' updates related to the Coronavirus/
COVID-19, please visit:
www.naturalgrocers.com/coronavirus-updates
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC;
NaturalGrocers.com) is an expanding specialty retailer of organic
and natural groceries, body care products and dietary supplements.
The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format,
affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education
programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition
choices. Founded in Colorado in
1955, Natural Grocers has more than 3,500 employees and operates
157 stores in 20 states.
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