|
main
suggestion page
make
a suggestion
Suggestion Archive
December, 2001
Q. You should carry La Siembra Cooperative Fair
Trade Hot Chocolate because it is good, and it is a co-op.
A. Wow – All that, and it is Fair Trade, the
same as Equal Exchange Coffees and Teas! (Fair Trade policies insure
the farmer/grower gets a livable wage, not just what the current
market price dictates). I checked it out at http://www.lasiembra.com/.
It looks great. We will definitely look into it.
Q. You are wonderful – I’ve completely
abandoned Bread and Circus and drive here from Brookline. But please
do these two things: 1) Carry Bell and Evans whole skin-on breasts
(or split) – make breast meat from free-roaming chickens a
little cheaper, and 2) Set up recycle boxes for plastic bags and
aseptic drink boxes. I collapse and wash these with soap.
A. Thanks for your support! Voting with your dollars
is an important way to make an impact, socially and economically.
1) We sell Bell and Evans skinless chicken breasts in both stores;
we do not sell the split, skin-on breasts because they cost more
than twice as much as Allen’s Natural Chicken, which we do
carry and is also a good quality chicken. 2) We recycle aseptic
boxes in Cambridge next to the front desk, and are trying to find
a source to recycle them in Jamaica Plain. Plastic bag recycling
has been an issue for a while, soon to be solved. The only recycler
we had been able to find will not pick up less than 30 bags of bags
at once, and we do not have the space to store them. That will improve
starting in March 2002, when we start with a new trash hauler, who
will recycle up to 80% of our trash. Thanks again for your support.
Q. I just joined the Food Co-op. Please change
the $200 to 50%/50%, donate and pocket the amount.
A. Thanks for joining. I assume what you mean is after
you reach $200 paid-in-full membership, you want to have the option
of a 50-50 split for your 2% discount: half going to the Community
Fund, half going back to you. Because of the limitations of our
register/computer system it is not possible right now. When we upgrade
the system in the future we hope to have this kind of flexibility.
In the meantime, you can change your option for your discount at
any time by filling out the purple form at the front desk of either
store. Thanks!
November, 2001
Q. I was reading the suggestions displayed in
the notebook to my right. I am not from Boston, I live in North
Carolina, I love your store. I was wondering, though, don’t
you get tired of reading ridiculous complaints? My god don’t
people have something better to do than walk around looking for
something to complain about - like me?
A. Thanks for writing. We ask for feedback –
good or bad. As human beings, we are imperfect. The comments are
tough sometimes, but we appreciate the time people take to write
us.
Q. Much appreciate the Styrofoam reduction in
the vegetable department. Good work. What about meat? Any alternatives
out there?
A. We will look into it again. It is tough because
of all the liquid that can leak out of meat. The cardboard containers
get too soggy.
Q. Please make sure Equal Exchange Sumatra coffee
is in stock.
A. Sorry it's been out. The Sumatran coffee has been
out of stock because the tracking documents from the last shipment
were destroyed with the shipping company offices in the World Trade
Center. There will be a new shipment soon.
Q. Please get free-range Chicken (in JP)! I know
the Harvest-Cambridge has it. Can this store get it?
A. Bell and Evans chicken is sold in both stores.
The chickens are not caged and are allowed to roam free in large,
airy chicken houses. Because they are not stressed and aggressive
from over crowding there is no need for debeaking. They are fed
grains fortified with vitamins and minerals to boost the immune
system, so there is no need for antibiotics. The feed is also antibiotic
free. They are not fed meat by-products (rendered meat scraps, bone,
feather meal, fishmeal, etc.) Please note that they are not "free-range",
in that they are not loose in the fields. This way, they are protected
from predators and their diet is controlled.
October, 2001
Q. Many people with children need to buy Organic.
Kale at over $2 a pound is way beyond their ability (to pay). With
prices like that enough people will not be able to buy organic food.
Everybody loses.
A. Part of supporting organic agriculture is sometimes
paying a higher shelf price, because organic is more expensive to
grow. We do not mark up organic produce higher than conventional
produce. Many prices have come down over time, the very high prices
are unusual but do still occasionally occur.
Q. Brian, Thanks for the Broccoli Rabe
A. You’re welcome
Q. Not happy about the cross-aisle blocked (in
Cambridge). It makes one more space one has to travel with a full
grocery cart. Why?
A. We are rearranging the grocery shelves to make
items easier to locate, and to add new products. We are removing
one row of grocery shelves to expand the Produce area; this shelving
was added so the grocery department was not reduced in size. The
new produce area will be open and allow for free circulating. We
hope that this will be an improvement overall.
September, 2001
Q. Why is the middle aisle blocked? Why are there
boxes in the aisles and empty shelves?
A. In Cambridge, we are rearranging the grocery shelves
to expand the produce department. We hope when we are done, it will
make shopping easier and give us space to add new products. Everything
is still here, it just may have moved. If you can’t find what
you want, please ask!
Q. The key fob (membership card) is too large!
How about something smaller?
A. Check out the smaller yellow keychain cards. I
hope this works better for you.
Q. The store looks wonderful! The new bins…displays…It
is bringing cleanliness and attractiveness of the merchandise to
a new level. Keep it up!
A. Thanks! We are working hard to keep upgrading the
shopping experience – Thanks for noticing!
Q. Expand the JP store! It’s too small. This
store (Cambridge) rocks and makes the JP one look tiny.
A. Oh, would we love to expand JP. We looked for a
long time for a bigger location there, but finally took what was
available. We will expand at any available opportunity. Thanks for
your support!
July 2001
Q) Could you please carry croissants?
A) Now on sale in the Café, Iggy’s Croissants.
Q) Please carry Edamame soybeans.
A) Your request was the third request we have had
in a month. We now have "Hearty and Natural Edamame" in
the freezer. Thanks for your suggestion.
Q) In the past, you have carried bulk seaweed
(arame, hiziki, etc.) and it was great! If you get more bulk seaweed,
I would be delighted!
A) Sorry, we had to discontinue bulk seaweed due to
slow sales and product going out of code. You can buy it packaged
in the International section, or we can special order it in bulk
for you at the front desk.
Q.) Why don’t you carry Ghee (clarified butter)?
I purchased it here last August, but have not seen it since the
start of the year.
A) We do carry it! Look in the section where the Indian
and Asian foods are. It’s there, I checked.
June 2001
Q.) The New Vegan goods are sooooooo good!
Thanks for improving the Cambridge vegan quality of life
A) Thanks. I will pass this on to Steve, our
vegan baker, and Melissa, our new Café manager. My favorite
is the vegan pumpkin muffin.
Q.) Could you please carry Croissants?
A) Yes, we have added Iggy’s croissants
in the Café
Q.) Please sell Edamame soy beans. Put them
at the salad bar, people would want them and subsequently buy them
A) We now have it! We received a lot of requests
all at once, so we are selling it out of the freezer, and we have
it on sale this month (June)
Q). Why can’t I find the Barbara’s
Cracked Pepper Crackers? Lately there seems to be hole on the shelf
where they are supposed to be. Please order more. LJ, Cambridge
A) Those are produced in California, where production
of many items has been effected by the rolling blackouts, and this
will continue over the summer. We will continue to order them, but
supply has been limited. Dawn Olcott, Marketing Director
Q). Are you ever going to get Nectar Nuggets?
They are soo good. Are they still making them?
A). We remember those. Weren’t they good?
It is sad to say they don’t make them anymore.
Q.) Hey! You don’t have Eden organic Apple
Butter. You’re the only place in Boston (that I know of) that
sells organic apple butter…
A.) This has been out of stock from our distributor
lately. Sorry, we hope it will be back soon, it’s a great product.
Q.) Please carry 1 qt. Containers of organic
milk
A.) Organic Valley does not come in quarts.
We will look for another source. If you know of one, please let
us know.
Q.) You need to stock more ice creams without
partially hydrogenated oils. Ben & Jerry’s often have them,
and they are very unhealthy
A.) You’re right, hydrogenated oils are
very unhealthy for you. They contribute to arterial disease as badly,
or worse than butter or lard. Unfortunately, people love Ben &
Jerry’s so we do our best to educate and provide alternatives.
Small amounts with a healthy diet and exercise will minimize the
damage, but more is best.
Q.) Please get much smaller Bok Choy. Thanks
A.) Produce size is dependent on the season,
the weather, etc., and we can’t control that. We try to buy
what is reasonable, but sometimes we have limited options as to
size.
Q.) Expand the JP store – It’s
too small. This one rocks and makes JP look tiny!
A.) Oh, would we love to expand JP. We looked
for a long time for a bigger location there, but we finally took
what was available. Thanks for your support.
|
