Grocery

Customer Question: Please consider stocking this item: San-J rice crackers. The best rice crackers ever.
Co-op Answer: Thank you for your input! Our ice cracker set is currently full, but when we next complete a review of this section, we will consider adding this brand in. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Could you please order and keep on hand the Amy organic coconut bars? They are amazing and delicious and I just love them!
A: Thank you for your input! I love these bars as well! We will be doing a category review of our chocolate section this month and may be able to find room for this flavor during that review. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Green Mountain Greek Yogurt pomegranate and mixed berry flavor.
A: Thank you for your input! We should have room to add in this flavor! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Can you get WASA crackers – thin rosemary and sea salt? Just had them in SF and they are delicious and would be a big hit.
A: Thank you for your input! I will check out our set and see if there is room to add another flavor or if we could drop a slower seller to add in this flavor. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Looking for VT Dinners Luscious Lasagna – hasn’t been in the freezer for weeks. What’s up?
A: Thank you for your input! We try to wait until we have a larger supply of product to order for this brand so that the vendor isn’t driving all the way here for one case. It has been ordered this week and be back on the shelf soon. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please bring back Bionaturae Rhombi – my favorite pasta.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, this style of Bionaturae has been discontinued by our distribution. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please consider stocking Primal Kitchen Caesar dressing and also the Caesar dressing that was in the cooler with the pesto.
A: Thank you for your input! We are hoping to have new fresh salad dressings in our cooler in the near future. Our grocery set of dressings is currently very full, but when we next do category reviews of that section, we will look at adding the Primal Kitchen Ceasar.

Q: Would love to see products in this store made by Campo di Vino in Barre, VT. Family owned, the family works and cooks in a historic commercial property. They are generous in Barre/Central VT community, food packing all recyclable, great variety of pastas, sauces, specialty meats you never find anywhere else for holidays. They prepare traditional meats, available to order. Campo Di Vino is the best local shop, worth waiting until afternoon hours open to shop and have a friendly visit.
A: Thank you for your input! It is always wonderful to hear about new local brands we can look into. I will pass along the info about their meat to the meat buyer and see if there is a place for their packaged grocery items in our store. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please carry Smiley preserves.
A: Thank you for your input! Currently our jam set is very full and we would not have space for an additional brand. If that changes in the future, we will definitely look into this brand further. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Can you get a lot of chocolate bunnies?
A: Thank you for your input! I hope we had enough chocolate bunnies for you this spring! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Wellness

Q: Please get methylated B complex from Mega Foods. Thank you.
A: We currently carry Megafood’s Methyl B12 and their Balanced B Complex. They don’t have a methylated B Complex. Another option is Adult B-Centered. Please let us know if you’d like us to special order it for you. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Canus Goat’s Milk Lotion.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. Canus Goat’s Milk Lotion i s available and we will be bringing it in. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Food Services

Q: Food in hot bar could use some creativity.
A: I would welcome any specific suggestions/requests you may have. Please stop by the deli to discuss, we love talking food! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: I wrote about having so many items in one day with raw garlic and onion, noting that many cannot eat it. Your response wasn’t very helpful, simply observing that yeah, sometimes we have garlic in a lot of stuff and sometimes we avoid it when we can. How about: Yes, get that it’s a problem ingredient and we commit to having at least one or two dishes without it?
A: I am sorry that we have not met your needs with the offerings or the response. I can commit to your request and also ask – what dishes were you talking about? Our hot bar does not use any raw garlic or onion, it is all cooked. Please come say hi and discuss wiht me. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Could you please wash broccoli on cold salad side…had dirt in it on Wednesday the 10th. Thank you.
A: Yes, this is a standard practice and I am sorry to hear that this was not up to our expectations. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Have a $ scale at hot salad bar.
A: I will look into how to do this. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Is everything okay with Joe’s soups? That is one of my major food groups!
A: Yes! He is all good and restocked. I will let him know how you feel. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Bring back the Rugachla!
A: This is something that the team decided to stop producing regularly based on our sales and ability to consistently produce though it may come back on occasion or it is something that can be special ordered as well. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

General

Q: I’m 8 years old and I live in Montpelier. My parents (an me) shop at Hunger Mountain Food Co-op. I’m writing to you because plastic is in a lot of stuff (not just food) that you sell at the Co-op. Even when the food is in a cardboard box, it’s usually wrapped in plastic on the inside. So I suggest that you either stop buying things that have plastic on the outside, or tell the companies about how bad plastic is for the Environment.
A: Thank you for your feedback. There is a fair amount of plastic at the CO-op and many members, shoppers and employees have been asking us to reduce our reliance on it. It is going take time and commitment from everyone, especially shoppers, since plastic is so useful, inexpensive and prevalent. But I am confident we can move away from single-use plastics in the coming years because we are smart and we care. -Kari, General Manager

Q: Co-op council – please pursue a human rights policy, thank you!
A: From Scott Hess: The Council has an ethics committee that has been considering an ethics or human rights policy for the past several month. For an update, you can speak with Eric Jacobson or Scott. -Kari, General Manager

Q: How times have changed. When I worked unions could not be mentioned or discussed in any way when we were working. It was only allowed in our break area or outside the building. Now you let employees wear Union shirts into the work area. I find it offensive.
A: I am sorry that this practice interferes with your enjoyment of the Co-op. We have always had a relatively tolerant view of employees expressing themselves and promoting their union. We see Co-op employees and their union as an important Co-op stakeholder and want them to feel included. -Kari, General Manager

Q: No need to contact. Please refinish the large tables especially in the eating area. They look dirty and are sticky and messy. They don’t clean.
A: Thanks for the comment. Yes, we are aware of the tables and are currently looking for someone to refinish them. Thanks for letting us know! -Mary, Facilities Manager