by webster s. walker
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Central Co-op’s annual election cycle has started. We are looking for candidates to help this business serve our owners and uphold our principles, as we navigate the economic and ecological crises of our time.
We’ve been a community-owned business for 31 years, 10 in our current location. Every year, co-op owners (that’s you!) elect three owners to join the board and help steer Central Co-op into the future. If you have time to give to your community, and skills or experience to share with our crew of dedicated volunteers, please consider running.
The co-op’s product issues committee (PIC) monthly discusses and hears concerns about the stuff we sell, making sure it’s aligned with our values. The PIC, comprised of engaged owners, workers, and trustees, recently adopted the PIC Pick program to recognize the ethical and environmentally sustainable business practices of food companies and producers. Any owner or worker may nominate a product or product line for the committee’s consideration (please include owner name, product name, and description) via physical form, available at Info Central, or at a meeting of the product issues committee.
To be considered, the nominated product or product line must go above and beyond the co-op’s product guidelines and must
boast exceptional worker, animal, and consumer welfare, notable environmental commitment, sustainable production methods, or social or political advocacy that serves the co-op’s values.
Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy
Shawn and Clarissa Langley are the driving force behind Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy, a Lynden-area farm dedicated to delicious dairy products, vat pasteurized and bottled on site.The Langley’s herd of 180 cows, predominantly of the Holstein variety, openly grazes on the family’s 400 acres, held and cultivated by their kin for more than 100 years. “We share a bond of experiencing various cycles of life and nature together,” Clarissa said, pointing to the ways raising her children on the farm has positively impacted the family.
Awarded the Stewardship Council’s Salmon Safe designation, independent certification of water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and overall watershed health management methods, the dairy’s native vegetation buffer, crop covering, organic practices, and careful waste disposal contribute to nearby Bertrand Creek’s vitality. “Knowing that we are maintaining pure land for our next generation, and providing quality milk for others to enjoy,” are among the things Clarissa finds most rewarding about Fresh Breeze’s work.
Look for Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy’s goods in our dairy department.
