We're Sustainability Stars!

Medford Food Co-op has been named a Sustainability Star by National Co+op Grocers (NCG) for excellence in our sustainability efforts. The award recognizes food co-ops that demonstrate outstanding leadership by making a positive impact on social, environmental, and local economic issues.

At its annual meeting in April, NCG honored Medford Food Co-op for diverting food waste from the landfill by donating almost 30,000 pounds of food to the Medford Gospel Mission in 2016. The Medford Gospel Mission operates The Main Ingredient Community Restaurant, which provides nutritious dinners seven days a week at no charge. These free restaurant style meals are part of the Mission’s efforts to restore normalcy and dignity in peoples’ lives. The co-op supports The Main Ingredient Community Restaurant with regular donations of wholesome, nutritious produce, eggs, dairy, and assorted grocery items.

Like all Sustainability Star award winners, we participate in Co+efficient, NCG’s sustainability program that helps co-op grocery stores measure their impacts, drive improvements, and share the story of their important work with community members and other co-ops. This marks the second year that NCG has highlighted co-ops by awarding Sustainability Star honors. Medford Food Co-op is one of ten co-ops nationwide recognized for their 2016 performance.

Medford Food Co-op’s vision is to cooperatively nurture a healthy community. The co-op strives to employ a democratic and cooperative governance structure and ethical business practices; to promote fairness, participation, and empowerment in the workplace and the community; to work to encourage and implement appropriate environmental practices; to promote awareness about food, nutrition, health, and cooperative values; and to be responsive and accountable to the community it serves.

The cooperative sector has long been an innovator in sustainability. Earning Sustainability Star recognition shows that Medford Food Co-op is leading the way, not only by excelling in our sustainability pursuits, but by sharing the details and result of our efforts for the benefit of co-ops and communities around the country.

MFC staff pose with the award from NCG.