Bulk Goods
Buying in bulk might be one of the best ways to save at our store. Bulk shopping allows you to get as little or as much as you need which reduces large amounts of ingredients that you don’t need. This practice greatly reduces packaging, which puts a smile on Mother Earth. We even offer incentives when you bring in your own empty containers for bulk goods.
Product Quality: You can be assured that when buying in bulk, our product standards directly apply to every almond, grain, herb, tea or spice. The majority of our bulk grains, spices and herbs come from Frontier Organic Co-op, a cooperative that offers high quality and competitive pricing while adhering to strict environmental standards.
Our Coffees: When it comes to our cup of Joe, we want the best possible. Our coffee buyers put each bag through a three step buying process:
1. Origins and Ethics: Where are these beans coming from? Too often, mass produced coffee will result in harmful effects and after effects on land. This type of harmful mass production can leave permanent negative effects on the communities and villages that produce coffee. We buy from smaller companies whose primary goal is the health of the land and workers.
2. Growing Practices: We look for companies that source from sustainably grown coffee farms. Organic methods such as shade-growing and the Rainforest Alliance (RAC) help maintain the use of the land and the delicious coffee that grows there. The Rainforest Alliance Certification can be found on most of our coffees. RAC coffees are grown in harmony with nature, without pesticides, and with fair treatment and conditions for workers.
3. Fair & Direct Trade: It’s not just about the coffee, it’s about the workers who rely on this trade to feed their families. We work with companies that put Fair Trade practices at the top of their list. Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty. By investing in their farms and communities while protecting the environment, and helping workers develop the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. Fair Trade democratically organizes farmer groups so they receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic product. Direct Trade Certification, a program developed by Counter Culture Coffee, represents the clear set of quality-driven principals that are guaranteed by the third-party, USDA-accredited Quality Certification Services. These principals are: 1. Personal & Direct Communication 2. Fair & Sustainable Prices 3. Exceptional Quality 4. 100% Transparency
Herbs & Grains: As often as possible we source organic herbs, grains and spices and always display their country of origin. Any questions that might arise when buying in bulk can quickly be answered by asking one of our stewards.