COVID-19 Update

The Chico Natural Foods Cooperative is a mission and values-driven community-owned entity. As such, transparency and information sharing are integral parts of organization’s DNA. We are always striving to be as honest and straightforward as possible with our staff, customers, and the community at large.

Yesterday we received the news that an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.  Two weeks ago, this worker informed us they had been directly exposed to the virus outside of the Co-op and immediately called out of work to self-quarantine. They have spent the last two weeks in paid self-isolation, resting and improving their health. They were not experiencing symptoms while at work prior to self-isolation and are currently on the mend!

As per CDC requirements and our in-store positive test protocol, our HR Manager called the Butte County Public Health office. We have employed an external cleaning service to thoroughly disinfect the workspaces this employee may have used. Any Co-op staff who have been determined to have been “exposed”* to the affected employee have been sent home (with pay) to self-isolate until they reach the end of their quarantine period.**

The Health Department feels that the Co-op is acting with thorough due diligence and taking all correct steps to ensure the health and safety of the Co-op.  

Even with the smaller footprint of our store, we have been very pro-active in minimizing worker contact, maintaining our 6 feet distances as best possible while working in our small spaces, wearing masks, and sanitizing all areas of the Co-op where workers and customers access. Any appearance of COVID-19 is distressing and worrying, but it also reinforces why we have such robust hygiene policies and practices in place: stringent mask policies, generous and proactive Wellness benefits, and a dedication to in-store sanitization will help keep everyone safe.

We take pride in our commitment to the safety of our store, and will continue to review and adapt our standards to best serve our community.

For shoppers that would like more information about the Co-op’s COVID protocols, or have any other questions about what’s happening, please email liza@chiconaturalfoods.coop.

*According to Butte County Public Health, an “exposed” co-worker is someone who worked within 6 feet of the affected individual for at least 15 minutes straight in an enclosed area.

** Butte County Public Health considers the quarantine period to be 14 days after the last date of close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Liza's Anniversary!

HAPPY CO-OP ANNIVERSARY, LIZA!

In these times of uncertainty, there is one thing we all can count on and that is the dedicated and thoughtful leadership of Liza Tedesco, General Manager of the Co-op. 

She is the first to say and acknowledge she could not do the stellar General Managerial work we all benefit from without the dedicated work of the Co-op staff.

She is the one that steered the Co-op through new sales highs and she has guided through sales declines.

She rallied through the Camp Fire, guided and is still guiding us through a pandemic and squarely facing the recent justified reaction to systemic racism in ways that are personal to us all and our area.

She has a fierce dedication to the growth and success of Chico Natural Foods Co-op that goes beyond the four walls of the building.

Liza is driven to support local food economies and every aspect of the necessary collaborations of multiple players, from growers and distributors to staff, member-owners and the community at large.

We appreciate her and congratulate her on a job well-done for 12 years as GM and her service as staff for a total of 19 years.

We love you, Liza!

The Chico Natural Foods Cooperative Board of Directors,

Michael, Sam, Laurie, Dara, Kathy Ariana & Aaron

Bulk Jar Deposit

Reusable Containers are Back!

The Co-op is reintroducing reusable containers to our Bulk Department—with a twist! At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we moved our Bulk Department to exclusively single-use containers, in the interest of protecting our customers and staff. We have a new program that ensures there are clean, sanitized, reusable jars available for our shoppers: a reusable jar deposit program.

How It Works:

• The Co-op has purchased new 16 oz. and 32 oz. glass jars for use in this program.

• The deposit on these jars is $2 each.

• Return the jars on a future Co-op trip to get your deposit back.

• We will wash and sanitize the jars and make them available for use again!

We know that this isn’t quite the same as using your own favorite jars and containers, but we hope that this will serve as a safe, affordable, zero-waste way of storing the fantastic foods available in the Co-op’s Bulk Section.

(And yes, Bulk Jars are available to use for Curbside Bulk Purchases!)

Have any questions? Call the Co-op at 530-891-1713.

Message from the Board

Dear Owners,

We hope that you and yours are healthy and safe during this trying time. This pandemic has affected us all, and we want to reassure you that we are here for you.

Our management and staff have gone above and beyond to keep our co-op safe and accessible. We, as a Board and as owners, are extremely grateful to our incredible management and staff for making the Co-op as safe as possible for you and for remaining diligent and committed to serving our community.

We also want to thank you for continuing to support our co-op. In a time when employment is uncertain for so many, we are happy and proud to be able to continue to offer our staff a fun, friendly, and safe place of work. Thank you!

The Co-op’s mission has always been to bring healthy, nutritious, sustainable food to our community. And at a time when your health, our health, everyone’s health is paramount, we continue to strive to serve our community and offer the highest quality foods available.

Click here to view what we’ve done and what we’re asking of you to keep the co-op safe for our customers.

We, as the Co-op’s Board of Directors, continue to diligently monitor the health, performance, and future viability of the organization. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow on so many of our lives, we want to assure you that the future of our co-op is very bright, and our place in the community is secure. We continue to work closely with the Co-op’s general manager, Liza, to ensure the success and stability of the Co-op, now and for years to come. 

Our Board meetings, which are held on the last Wednesday of every month, are now taking place virtually and, as with all Co-op board meetings, are open to all owners.

Recently, we secured a long-term lease extension at our current location and we are planning a full redesign and remodel of the store. We will be funding the majority of this remodel with investments from our owners (you!). We plan to relaunch the investment campaign this fall. In the meantime, if you are interested or if you have any questions about investing, please contact Joey Haney at JHaney@chiconaturalfoods.coop.

Thank you all for being part of our wonderful community and for continuing to support our (and your) co-op, staff, and local food producers. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Please stay healthy, stay happy, and eat well. We are here for you – and we always will be.

IN-STORE UPDATES

There have been a lot of changes at the Co-op lately. Here’s the latest news on what’s going on at your Co-op!

MASKS ARE ENCOURAGED

The CDC is suggesting that individuals wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures may be difficult to maintain (for example, retail stores). While we realize that not everyone has access to a mask, or finds it difficult to wear one for health reasons, we still encourage you to wear a mask when you come into the Co-op, for your own safety, the safety of our staff, and of our other shoppers! We have provided all our staff with washable, reusable masks, and are encouraging them to wear them while working. And remember, if are are wanting to avoid other folks entirely, you can order Curbside Pickup from our website!

CURBSIDE AT THE CO-OP!

We’re loving our Curbside Pickup program here at the Co-op! You can skip the line, get all your favorite food, and still support Chico’s ONLY community-owned grocery store with Curbside! Learn more, and place an order here: Curbside Pickup.

BAGS ARE BACK!

We’re happy to announce that Co-op customers may now bring their reusable grocery bags into the store! We do ask that, if you bring your own reusable bag in from home, that you bag your own groceries at check-out. Thank you!

SOCIAL DISTANCING

We want everyone at the Co-op to be as safe as possible when shopping. So we are encouraging folks to practice healthy physical distancing while at the Co-op. Please try and keep a good distance from other employees and shoppers, when possible, at the store!

NEW HOURS AT THE CO-OP

To better serve all our shoppers, the Co-op will be temporarily changing our hours as of Monday, March 23rd.

Starting on the 23rd, we will be open to the general public from 9am - 8pm every day.

In addition, we will be opening the store exclusively to shoppers 60 years of age and older and immunocompromised individuals from 8am-9am every day, starting on March 23rd. We are creating this protected time at the store to allow this group, which is particularly threatened by COVID-19, to shop in the safest possible environment.

Reduced store hours will enable Co-op staff to provide you with the best, cleanest, and safest experience possible. The delayed start will allow us extra time to thoroughly sanitize all the key touch points in the store. Furthermore, if we can stock the shelves more before the store opens, then it will be easier for us to practice safe physical distancing during store hours.

We know that many of you count on the Co-op for all the delicious, healthy foods that keep you thriving, and that a reduction in hours may be inconvenient. We hope you’ll be flexible and stick with us as we work extra hard to deliver the best possible Co-op experience, even in these challenging times.