PCC began as a community of people committed to each other and to good food. Almost seven decades later, this still holds true. We are owned by and accountable to our members. Our yearly Co-op Purposes Report is in service to our members and community: showcasing how the co-op’s activity this past year connects with our mission to ensure that good food nourishes the communities we serve, while cultivating vibrant, local, organic food systems.
PCC 2020 Snapshot
PCC operates on a triple bottom line, always balancing economic, social and environmental impact. In everything we do, we are inspired by the Rochdale Principles that guide all co-ops. We also strive to deliver on the areas that make PCC unique: our community ownership, dedication to organic and locally sourced products, commitment to product sustainability, and passion for healthy and delicious food made from scratch.
A letter from The Board of Trustees
“Last year was hard, but the co-op’s store teams and leadership leaned in harder. With guidance and support from the Board of Trustees, the entire organization stayed nimble and responsive in the face of rapidly changing local and federal government policies and requirements. We kept our shelves stocked by deftly navigating a struggling supply chain and leveraging our local relationships. Through it all, we prioritized the health and safety of our staff and shoppers.”
– PCC Board of Trustees
From achieving carbon positive store operations to increasing our selection of organic products, check out our progress on our 5-year sustainability goals.
We view all aspects of our business through a sustainable lens, whether it’s providing sustainable and transparent products,advocating for organic food systems, designing green stores or supporting the communities we serve.
Here you will find stories, most of which were told in our Sound Consumer newspaper, that illustrate our steadfast efforts to preserve our triple bottom line this year in the face of a life-altering pandemic.
Photo by Marcus Badgley
Supporting organic farmers, farmland and producers
As a certified organic grocer, PCC is committed to supporting local and organic food systems — especially in its own backyard. From protecting threatened farmland through ongoing work with Washington Farmland Trust to supporting organic producers through Organic Producer Grants, PCC looks for meaningful ways to support local farms and producers to ensure a healthy food system for years to come.
Providing Food Access & COVID-19 Emergency Relief Support
Working to provide good food to nourish its community is part of PCC’s overall mission. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created a disruption to the emergency food system never seen before. PCC acted quickly to support its community, including adjusting its Food Bank Program to connect local farms and food banks, and donating 1.4 million meals to neighborhood food bank and grocery rescue partners.
In 2020, PCC continued its work to foster vibrant and healthy communities through strategic partnerships, robust neighborhood and regional giving programs, and community grants. The co-op provided $710,000 in support to dozens of area partners focused on sustainability and social impact. Through a partnership with Ventures, PCC introduced a Diverse Entrepreneur Grant to support BIPOC, female and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.
Sustaining the environment and communities through strong product standards
The co-op constantly evaluates its products and product standards to be a trusted leader in social and environmental sustainability. PCC introduced new standards for its fresh chicken eggs that require all suppliers’ hens have access to the outdoors, and the PCC Chinook Sourcing Standard to ensure the co-op only offers Chinook salmon sourced to protect Southern Residents’ main food supply and overall Chinook populations.
A healthy food system is possible only if there are policies, infrastructure and resources to support it. Last year, PCC endorsed the Soil Health Initiative, continued to push for alternatives to plastic packaging, and addressed the issue of organic fraud to help improve the integrity of the organic supply chain.
Matching Building Standards to the Products on Our Shelves
PCC’s vision is to inspire and advance the health and well-being of people and their communities as well as the planet. To that end, the co-op ensures its stores meet just as high of standards as its products. PCC’s Ballard location was recognized as the first Living Building Challenge Petal Certified grocery store in the world — meeting the most rigorous green building standard.
PCC is actively making efforts to become a more inclusive place for staff and shoppers. This past year, we focused on developing a culture of learning, compassion and inclusion. As we put in the work, one of our most valuable lessons learned was that it’s important to take a step forward and get started. We won’t be perfect, but by working together and learning along the way, each step adds up to meaningful progress.
PCC believes in being open and transparent with its community. Accordingly, you can learn more here about the co-op’s compensation philosophy and structure.
Become a member
If you’re not a member and want to support the work you just read about, it’s quick and easy to join the co-op.