The Organic Retail and Consumer Alliance picked 12 grocers it considers to best educate consumers about genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) and provide non-GMO alternatives. The 12 grocers, what it calls the “Diligent Dozen,” were picked out of more than 50 regional grocers. These are the grocers who lead the natural food industry by advocating for GMO labeling and transitioning to non-GMO ingredients.
California stands out as a clear winner because four of the 12 are located in the golden state.
Two of the other grocers on the list are on the East Coast, one is in the Midwest, two are in the Northeast, two are in Florida, and one is in Canada. All 12 are Non-GMO Project Participating Retailers.
The top 12 right to know grocers
1. Berkshire Organic Market & Deli in Dalton, Massachusetts
There is a very good reason why the store, which stocks about 3,000 mostly local and organic items, made the number one spot on the list. It requires signed affidavits verifying that manufactured products, ingredients and feed used by livestock farmers are GMO-free. Store staff even visit sustainable farms to verify farming practices. Founded in 2008, about 65 percent of the stores total sales and about 80 percent of its produce sales are certified organic. All produce is either certified organic or sustainably grown. Products that are likely to contain GMO ingredients are labeled, and are discontinued as sales volume drops.
2. Dad’s Organic Market in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The store created a “No GMO” policy a year ago, and communicates that policy to its manufacturers and vendors. It requires manufacturers to put GMO-free statements on their letterhead before the store will purchase products containing suspect ingredients. The store’s buyers always push manufacturers to remove GMO ingredients from their products. Founded in 1986, it is the only Canadian store to make the list. A whopping 96 percent of the stores overall sales are organic, and all of its produce sales are organic.
3. Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax, California
The store not only supported California's 2012 GMO labeling bill called Prop 37 (which failed by a small margin), but also donated $25,000 to its campaign, the largest donation of any grocer in the country. Founded in 1969, 50 percent of its overall sales are organic, and all of its produce sales are organic.The store works to continually remove products that may contain GMO ingredients as soon as GMO-free alternatives are available. The store currently only stocks a handful of foods suspected of containing GMO ingredients.
4. Jimbo’s Naturally in San Diego, California
The five-store grocery chain gave $10,000 in support of Prop 37. Founded in 1984, about 50 to 75 percent of its store sales are organic. Over 95 percent of its produce sales are organic. The grocer is not only a participating member of the Non-GMO Project, but is a member of the retail advisory board.
5. MOM’s Organic Market in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
The two-store grocer gave $10,000 in support of Prop 37, and $5,000 to the state of Washington’s GMO labeling ballot initiative called I-522. Founded in 1987, two-thirds of the grocer’s store sales are organic, and all of its produce sales are organic. In July 2012, the grocer informed its suppliers that it would no longer accept foods with high-risk GMO ingredients, and that products with ingredients that may be GMO had to be either certified organic or Non-GMO Project verified.
Read more about Prop 37
6. Native Sun Natural Foods Market in Jacksonville, Florida
The store has five staff members who do product research, and meet regularly to review new products and analyze the ingredients for possible GMOs. The researchers have an updated handbook with listing ingredients that are allowed and those that are banned. The list of banned ingredients goes beyond GMOs, and includes artificial caramel color, and the preservative carrageenan. Founded in 1996, the store’s overall sales are over 70 percent organic, and produce sales are completely organic.
7. Natural Grocery Company in Berkeley, California and El Cerrito, California
About four years ago, the two-store grocer established a policy that requires buyers to inform manufacturers and vendors that they will only purchase organic products, except where organic alternatives aren’t available. Founded in 1981, 60 to 75 percent of its overall sales are organic, and all of its produce sales are organic. The company donated more than $3,200 to support Prop 37.
8. Nature’s Food Patch Market & Cafe in Clearwater, Florida
The store requires all products suspected of containing GMO ingredients to be labeled with “GMO tags.” The store educates its consumers about GMOs through email updates, on Facebook and the store’s website. It also gives customers non-GMO pamphlets and packets of information. Founded in 1988, 65 percent of the store’s overall sales are organic and about 95 percent of its produce sales are organic. Last year, the store hired a full-time GMO researcher who is in daily contact with manufacturers and continually pressures them to remove GMO ingredients from their products.
9. Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Co-Op in San Diego, California
The store informs manufacturers that all products its purchases must be either organic or an affidavit must be provided certifying that products are GMO-free. Founded in 1971, 95 percent of its overall store sales are organic. The store donated $5,000 in support of Prop 37.
10. Sundance Natural Foods in Eugene, Oregon
The store communicates to its suppliers that no product containing GMO ingredients will be sold. In addition, the store evaluates products that contain suspect ingredients, and removes products unless verification that they are GMO-free is provided. Founded in 1971, about 80 percent of its overall store sales are organic, and 99.2 percent of its produce sales are organic.
11. Terra Organica in Bellingham, Washington
The store surveyed its customers about how its should handle products that may contain GMO ingredients. Most of the surveyed customers responded that they wanted labels. In March, products with GMO ingredients began appearing on the store’s shelves. Founded in 1997, all of the store’s organic produce sales are either certified organic or meet organic production standards.
Read more about GMOs
12. The Sunspot Natural Market in Kokomo, Indiana
The store contacts manufacturers of products who claim they are GMO-free, but lack Non-GMO Project verification to verify the claims. Founded in 1977, over 75 percent of overall store sales are organic, and produce sales are 95 percent organic.
Photo Credit: I-5 Design & Manufacture
