Our Mission
The Viroqua Food Co+op combines a commitment to natural foods, superior customer service and building a cooperative business. We emphasize organic and local foods and products to promote the long-term health of individuals and the environment. As member-owners and as a center for community, we offer the opportunity to create together a work of enduring value.
good. local. food.
We believe that good food nourishes our bodies, and helps to build a better world for future generations. Our product philosophy reflects these values. Here is a quick guide to some of the products you will find in every department of our store.
When we say local, we mean food grown or produced within 100 miles of the co-op. By prioritizing local food, we keep food dollars recirculating in our community and help to grow the local economy. Plus, local sourcing from people we know, helps us ensure food transparency, food safety and environmental sustainability.
When it comes to food labels, the USDA Certified Organic seal is the gold standard and indicates so much more than just “pesticide-free food.” The label represents a sustainable, transparent and ecologically sound system of food production that not only produces abundant, nutritious, delicious food but also speaks to one of today’s hottest food topics: genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Seeds from genetically engineered plants have never been allowed in organic production and remain excluded from organic certification to this day.
All foods labeled and sold as “organic” must be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) accredited independent certifying agencies.
Fairtrade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity between producers and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade, allowing them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through every day shopping.
The fairtrade movement has a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices, both at home and abroad, so that everyone through their work can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood.
The initiative to identify and increase the representation of diverse suppliers in our supply chain is called Inclusive Trade. To qualify for the Inclusive Trade designation, a business must be at least 51% owned and operated by an individual or group that is part of a systemically underrepresented or underserved group. This includes businesses owned by people who identify as women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
Through a supplier diversity system, we can provide shoppers with more varied offerings and better information about the people behind the products they purchase.
The Inclusive Trade designation includes many national brands that you already know and love. It also encourages partnerships with qualifying suppliers unique to VFC’s 100-mile local food shed. As local brands self-identify as diverse, it opens a conversation about the benefits of certification and support available to their business through this designation.
The co-op way of doing business is to be open, fair and democratic. As a co-op, we love supporting other cooperatively owned enterprises- it’s one of our cooperative principles! Look for this mark to find brands cooperatively owned by their workers, farmers or community.
