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SUMMARY
Location: Eugene, OR
Industry: Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Farming, Farmer’s Cooperative
Background of Company: The Organically Grown Company was formed in 1982 as an organic farmer cooperative in Eugene, Oregon. The cooperative expanded and eventually became a company so that employees could be included as shareholders. Today, it is the largest wholesaler of organic produce in the northwestern United States.
Motivation: The owners/farmers were the original motivators and the CEO Josh Hinerfeld, along with Sustainability Coordinator, Natalie Rietman have continued to push the sustainability effort.
Best Successes: Organically Grown Company now draws 100% of its electricity from wind power, has reduced emissions in its fleet, and contributes to socio-economic development for banana-farming communities in Mexico.
Greatest Challenges:
- Employee involvement, keeping the costs down while supporting sustainable agriculture decisions, finding solutions for larger systematic environmental sustainability problems like bulk transportation
Partnerships and other organizations involved: “Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association,” Organics Unlimited as part of their “Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers (GROW)” program, Sequential Biofuels
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