Open Harvest Non-Sustainable Products

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    the Open Harvest Cooperative Board of Directors
  • Sponsored By:
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
We, the undersigned members and customers of Open Harvest Cooperative, believe that recent non-food additions to the store's product selection not only contravene its established purchasing policy, but also contradict its publicly stated mission to "provide good health through good nutrition."

The decision to carry these items displays a lack of respect for the principles upon which the Cooperative was founded; it disregards almost forty years' worth of accomplishment; and it undermines the Cooperative's standing as a promoter of sustainable practices and responsible consumption.

We do not object to the presence of non-food items at Open Harvest; but while we understand that a diverse product selection is essential to the solvency of the enterprise, we also believe that there are better ways to achieve profitability while still honoring values which the Cooperative claims to uphold.

It is possible to offer non-food items that suit the aims of the organization; but it is apparent that such considerations were not part of the decision-making process by which these new products were introduced. We reject the notion that products like non-rechargeable batteries, non-recycled paper notebooks and index cards, and toxic industrial lubricant are crucial to the continued existence of Open Harvest Cooperative.

We, the undersigned, therefore respectfully ask the Board to take the following actions:

1. Enact a systematic review of the recently added products and assess their compliance with the Purchasing Policy and the Mission Statement of Open Harvest;

2. Strengthen the Purchasing Policy by establishing clear guidelines which fit the Mission Statement; and by giving due consideration to the publicly stated philosophy of Open Harvest, rather than only its commercial necessities; and,

3. Direct the General Manger to apply the Purchasing Policy as an official store policy by which any Manager with purchasing authority must abide.

Thank you.

87 Signatures

  • Michael A. Henry
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15
  • Cindy Elder
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 6
  • John Quinn
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 25
  • Stephanie Dank
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 4-8
  • April Segura
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 6
  • Courtney Quinn
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 20
  • Emily Lowell
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 5
  • Jonathan Ferguson
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 4 times a week
  • Israel Cilio
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • almost daily
  • Angela Barber
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
  • Emily McKeone
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • daily
  • Sara Kroll
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • weekly
  • Jeanie Sterns
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 12 or more, I only shop at organic stores.
  • Sheri Zuchegna
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
  • Nancy Carol Elder
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • Once
  • Greg Tunink
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 1
  • Amy Lehman
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • Five
  • Dana Fritz
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 5
  • Barbara Cornelius
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 8
  • Marnie Jensen
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15
  • Andy Witkowski
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
  • Steve Allen
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 7
  • Kimberly Thomas
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15
  • Heather Sticka
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 12-20
  • Kayla Sandusky
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 2
  • Kathy Fleming
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 2
  • cindy chapman
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 2
  • Amy Brt
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • weekly
  • Janice Trease
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 2
  • Shaun Vanneman
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 4
  • Ian Singh
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 2
  • Laura Chisholm
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 3
  • Connie Eppler
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 20 times a month
  • Jean Slocum
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 4-8
  • Elizabeth Wolf
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15
  • joellen mcginn
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 4
  • Todd Rivers
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 12
  • Deslie Ervin
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 20
  • Amanda Woodward
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 3
  • Pat Stear
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 8
  • Lisa Zuhlke
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 1
  • Katie Carlson
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 10
  • Angie Nelson
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • work and shop
  • Anne Marie Frerichs
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15
  • Kris Gandara
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 10
  • Melissa Hodges
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 10
  • Alene Swinehart
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15+
  • Eric Wentz
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 8
  • Margaret Meryl-Mae Stroup
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 10
  • Justine Carmer
    • Are you a member of Open Harvest?
    • No
    • On average, how many times per month do you visit Open Harvest?
    • 15