Mississippi Market’s Product Policy
Mississippi Market’s goal is to remain St. Paul’s
premier retail provider of organic and natural foods. We
offer members and shoppers a choice of products and information
that promote personal, economic and environmental health
and sustainability. We act as a buying agent for our members,
not a selling agent for manufacturers.
The buyers at Mississippi
Market are presented with a wide range of products and
must determine what products should
or should not be carried by our store. In general, Mississippi
Market wants to carry a wide variety of high quality
products, which are wholesome, supportive of local producers,
help
build a sustainable food distribution system, produced
in an environmentally sound and socially conscious manner,
and available at a fair price. However, we also choose
to carry some products as a convenience to our members
and shoppers.
In order to guide our buyers’ choices we give strong
preference to products that are:
- Certified Organic
- Locally produced
- Produced utilizing practices that support sustainable
agriculture
- Fair Trade certified
- Free of harmful preservatives or artificial additives,
as defined in Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives
- Free of growth hormones or antibiotics
- Raised using sound animal husbandry and humane practices
- Fairly priced, offering our members value for their
money
- Packaged minimally, and/or packaged, with materials
that are manufactured and disposed of in an environmentally
sound
manner
- Produced and distributed by vendors who meet city and
state civil rights policies and run their businesses ethically
- Produced or distributed by cooperatively owned vendors
- Produced by manufacturers who do not utilize animal
testing
- Help meet the needs of people on specialty diets, such
as products that are wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free,
vegan, etc.
- Free of added artificially produced trans-fats
- Available for purchase on the WIC program
- Desired by our members and shoppers
In addition, customer requests will constantly be reviewed
and considered. Whenever possible the store will provide
information on research regarding pesticides, herbicides,
fungicides and artificial or potentially harmful additives.
Also, information regarding the ingredients of products
and their manufacturing processes as well as nutritional
values of products will be provided.
This policy may be amended by management at any time, and
will be reviewed annually by the Co-op’s Board
of Directors. (revised October 18, 2005)
