EFC Mission & Ends Policies

Our Mission:

Eastside Food Cooperative will provide wholesome, high-quality natural and organic food at the lowest possible cost to members, volunteers and customers. The cooperative is committed to building community through volunteerism, neighborhood reinvestment and local participation. Our actions, policies and products will reflect our role as an environmental steward of our planet and will be guided by the Rochdale cooperative principles:

  • Voluntary and open membership

  • Democratic member control

  • Member economic participation

  • Autonomy and independence

  • Education, training and information

  • Cooperation among cooperatives

  • Concern for community

Our Ends Policies:

Eastside Food Co-op’s Ends Policies establish the reason for our existence and state the specific outcomes we wish to achieve.  They serve as our guiding principles, and help us to establish strategic priorities, targets and measurements of achievement.

 
A1:  Community
Our community benefits from our presence.  Our community consists of Co-op members, non-members shoppers, employees, suppliers, investors, Central Avenue and the surrounding area and the greater co-operative community.
 
A2:  Employees
Our employees are motivated to excel by receiving a living wage, benefits and advancement opportunities in a fair and respectful workplace.
 
A3:  Products and Services
Our products and services sustain and satisfy our community, and are selected by giving preference to organic, fair trade, and local production.
 
A4.  Environment
Our environment is minimally impacted by our presence and practices. 
 
A5: Business
Our business grows and prospers and is rooted in the Rochdale Principles:

  • Voluntary and open membership

  • Democratic member control

  • Member economic participation

  • Autonomy and independence

  • Education, training and information

  • Cooperation among cooperatives

  • Concern for community

 (Adopted September 4, 2003; revised April 14, 2008.)