Letters to the Editor

Doing good for people and the planet

Hello, Sound Consumer. The Winter 2024 issue was superb! It brought back to me the good feelings that I have had about PCC since I first wandered into a store in 1970-something. I was reminded me of the ways that, when I shop, PCC does good for me and for the planet. The topics were important and useful, as well as inspiring. Bold headlines, information dense articles often limited to one page, and the stories of people contributing their talents to bring healthy, delicious food to people. The article “Wallet Wellness” about value and values at PCC was deserving of the extra space! The same can be said for the excellent article about Ridwell.

I will definitely be following the Sound Consumer online.

PCC does the heavy lifting to research and advocate for my values, whether they be heath-related, social, environmental, or economic. The food and products that don’t make the cut are kept off of the shelves. At the same time, PCC intensely works to offer competitive and fair pricing, advocates for programs to increase food access and participates in programs to provide food for the community.

This is the approach to food that I am glad to support with my grocery shopping dollars.

Thank you!
Carolyn Boatsman

PCC replies: Thank you for reading, for your kind words and for your long membership! It means a great deal to PCC’s staff to know that our goals and their work are being seen and appreciated.

We are always interested in hearing more about PCC’s history if you or other longtime members have stories to share!

 

Sound Consumer goes online-only

Greetings! I see on the cover of my latest copy of the Sound Consumer that the paper is moving online. I’m writing to express my deep disappointment. I absolutely love picking up the Sound Consumer and flipping through it on my dining room table, as I have for years.

I’m sure it’s an expenditure and an (old-)timey way of being, print — how gauche! Color me old-fashioned; I love the paper.

Please reconsider your decision to only publish Sound Consumer online. It’s really really not the same.

Sincerely,
Amani Loutfy

PCC replies: Thank you so much for reading and for your feedback. We also love print publications and all they offer.

That said, 2022 and 2023 were particularly financially challenging years for the co-op. We do feel lucky to have an online version of Sound Consumer available, and PCC remains committed to independent journalism. There are some advantages — we will be able to run more timely articles and to cover more current issues. There are sustainability benefits as well to using less paper.

If you don’t already receive the monthly emails linking to new editions I hope you’ll sign up and continue to read.

 

Plant-based lunches

I’m writing to voice concerns about the article “Introducing the PBL (Plant-based Lunch).” I’ve been a PCC member since the mid-80s and a vegetarian for most of that time. I really didn’t expect to see diet advice from PCC. I really hope that I don’t in the future. It’s fine to give folks PBL ideas and recipes (although I don’t think that hers are great for first-timers because such high quantities of beans can cause gastric distress in those not used to them). Just no diet advice, please.

Karen Wosilait (she/her)

PCC replies: Thank you for reading, for your long membership and for your feedback. Sound Consumer does try to provide information on nutritious foods and the impact of what we eat on people and the planet, but you make a good point on eating large quantities of beans! You and other readers might enjoy this feature from Sound Consumer’s archives by Crescent Dragonwagon, author of “Bean by Bean” and many other works, who talks about the gastric issues too.

Also in this issue

How a 135-year-old Seattle company made produce boxes better

The 135-year-old Seattle-Tacoma Box Co. created a rare recyclable produce box – and figured out how to keep it from the landfill.

Everything you wanted to know about halibut, recipes included

Get halibut recipes and learn tips for cooking this firm, flaky fish known as “the steak of the seafood world.”

The double mission of Seadrunar Recycling

A recycling facility in South Seattle keeps materials from the landfill while also supporting treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.