An initial meeting of interested co-op members and co-op board members took place on May 1, 2008 at 5:45pm - 7:15pm at Break Espresso, to discuss the creation of this document. Five (5) sample policies from co-ops around the country were reviewed as a springboard for ideas. Molly White, co-op member, tabulated the results from a product survey among Missoula Community Co-op members on May 13, 2008-these results are reflected in the order of the headings below, 1 being the most important to the average Missoula Community Co-op member who answered the survey.

A second meeting gathered at Maxine's house on June 5, 2008 to discuss the following draft and changes/additions were made accordingly.

The policy had a comment period from June-August 2008. Members were able to comment by filling out a comment card at the store and/or posting a comment to the blog. Comments were discussed at two subsequent Product Committee Meetings.

The policy was moved out of the Product Committee to Operations on September 11, 2008.

The following document is an attempt to define the product selection guidelines here at the Missoula Community Co-op, located at 1500 Burns Street in Missoula, MT. The Missoula Community Co-op will support and adhere to the principles set forth within this document whenever possible, within all areas of its operation. The Missoula Community Co-op states that the following Product Selection Policy is a working document and the principles set forth are subject to change at any time.

1. Local

The Missoula Community Co-op's product selection will give preference to products locally grown and/or produced (promoting community and local/small business, farms and ranches, etc.) and products from independently owned businesses.

2. Environmental and Consumer Health Impacts

The Missoula Community Co-op will give preference to products that have the lowest negative impact on the environment (including product packaging, environmentally friendly (cleaning) products and having preference to organic and GMO-free products, etc.). The Missoula Community Co-op will maintain a method of recycling waste and will support alternative modes of transportation.

The Missoula Community Co-op will give preference to products that have the lowest negative impact on the consumer (healthy products, including products without artificial coloring, flavoring and/or preservatives, products without msg, products without refined white sugar and/or flour, products without hydrogenated oils and products without aspartame, etc.).

3. Social Responsibility

The Missoula Community Co-op will give preference to companies that uphold human rights (pay employees a living wage in a safe working environment, etc.), do not use animal testing for their products and do not practice the inhumane treatment of animals when raising these animals for meat and/or dairy products.

4. Price

The Missoula Community Co-op will strive to provide a selection of products sold at a price that will enable customers of all income levels to shop for high quality, whole foods.

5. Education & Community Outreach

The Missoula Community Co-op will research products and the cooperatives/companies they come and provide the information gathered to the community. The Missoula Community Co-op will communicate to the companies we buy from and those we choose not to, as to why.

The Missoula Community Co-op will provide workshops for the community on product nutrition and cooking and general health and well-being.

The Missoula Community Co-op will support special dietary concerns and desires/cultural considerations within our product selection and will carry products that have uncommon availability in the Missoula area.