Our Co-op’s Commitment to Preventing the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

March 13, 2020

Dear Portland Food Co-op Member-Owners and Shoppers,

It is often the case, in difficult times, that community grocery stores are a vital resource to the people they serve. The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in our region is proving that this continues to be true.

You have come to us in recent days to stock your pantry, replenish cleaning supplies, and prepare alongside others in the community. As a grocery store, our co-op is in the unique position of offering essential services for our community while also doing all we can to minimize risk to our staff, Member-Owners, and shoppers.

Considering the situation our region finds itself in, I want to share the things our co-op is doing to best serve you, care for our staff, and be a responsible member of our community:

• While the Portland Food Coo-op has had no reported COVID-19 infections within our Co-op staff, we have asked any staff members exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness or fever to stay home and notify their physician. Our co-op has a generous paid time off policy, and we are working with employees on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have the support they need. We have also enacted a policy that if any staff member does contract COVID-19, we will give them an additional two weeks of paid time off so that they can stay home and care for themselves.

• Our Co-op prides itself on its cleanliness and food safety standards and has rigorous health and safety guidelines. Following guidance from the CDC and other agencies, we have implemented even more rigorous cleaning practices throughout all our departments. This includes frequently sanitizing of all high-touch locations like payment machines, scales, bathroom areas, refrigerated and freezer doors, bulk bin handles and utensils, carts, and hand-baskets.

• We recently contracted with a company to install hand sanitizing stations at multiple points around the Co-op. You will see these within the next week.

• We have discontinued all food samplings until we feel it is safe to resume them.

• We have discontinued all classes until we feel it is safe to resume them.

• Our deli is temporarily stopping the offering of reusable cups, bowls, and flatware. We are switching to single-use compostable products only.

Throughout all of this, we are making additional efforts to demonstrate our gratitude to our staff who continue to work each day with commitment, compassion, and kindness to ensure our store is stocked, clean, and ready to serve you. Our staff encounter hundreds of people per day, so I am asking all of you to respect some guidelines we are putting in place to protect them:

• If you are sick, please have a family member, friend, or neighbor shop for you. Please don’t come into the Co-op if you are sick.

• If possible, please sanitize your hands before coming to the Co-op.

• If possible, please visit our restrooms and wash your hands before beginning to shop.

• Please take advantage of any sanitizing stations that we have available.

• Please don’t ask to shake hands with any staff member.

• Please respect staff members’ personal space, especially if you need to cough or sneeze.  Please cough or sneeze into your sleeve, or better yet into a tissue that you dispose of outside of the Co-op.

• While we will continue to accept cash as payment at the registers, please consider using a card whenever possible. This eliminates direct contact.

I anticipate that guidance from federal, state and local agencies may change rapidly over the coming days and weeks. I will continue to monitor this closely and be nimble in adjusting our operations to prioritize the health and safety of you and our staff.

I know you have many choices when it comes to where to purchase groceries. Thank you for choosing our Co-op and for being an integral part of our community.  We will get through this together.

Sincerely,

John Crane
General Manager