Natural Grocers to raise funds to support pesticide-free parks

01-Sep-2022 - Last updated on 01-Sep-2022 at 18:00 GMT

©Getty Images - Sally Anscombe

Natural Grocers is putting its money where its mouth is by sponsoring a fundraiser to support the spread of public parks that are free of synthetic pesticides.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, to use the company’s full formal name, is a Lakewood, CO-based chain of more than 160 stores mostly west of the Mississippi. The company concentrates on the sale of organic produce and natural meats but also devotes a significant amount of store square footage to the sale of dietary supplements.

The company is hosting an in-store fundraiser for the group Beyond Pesticides to foster the development of parks and other public spaces that are maintained without the use of synthetic pesticides. The company has set a goal of raising $100,000 for the group.

Avoiding pesticide exposures

According to Beyond Pesticides, of the 40 most commonly used lawn and landscape pesticides, 26 are possible and/or known carcinogens, 24 have to potential disrupt human endocrine systems, and 29 are linked to reproductive effects and sexual dysfunction in addition to links to other deleterious health effects.

The fundraiser is part of the celebration of Organic Month. Natural Grocers said the goal of the observations is to help “improve human health, the health of the environment and help to ensure a robust economy – the triple bottom line of regeneration.”

The company says it will donate the majority of the proceeds of the sale of certain reusable shopping bags and food storage pouches to the fundraiser during the month. Customers can also donate to the nonprofit directly in the stores.

"As we face existential health and environmental threats from fossil fuel-based pesticides and fertilizers, organic food production and land management provide a real solution," said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. "Our partnership with Natural Grocers during Organic Month and year-round is powerful in advancing needed change because organic supporters play a critical role through organic purchasing decisions and support of community efforts to manage parks and playing fields organically. This contributes to safer food production and healthier communities, while protecting our air, land, water, and biodiversity and fighting the climate crisis.”

Natural Grocers debuted as a public company more than a decade ago. Since then, the company’s annual revenues have grown to more than $1 billion.