July Feedback Responses 2024
| Date | Request/Comment | Response from the Co-op |
| Grocery |
Request that we carry:
Meati Vegan Meats https://meati.com/cuts |
Response: -Rocio, Operations Manager |
| Produce |
Comment: The yellow squash you are calling crook-neck is not true crook-neck squash. It does not have the candy can shape neck and does not have the rich flavor or true crook-neck squash |
Response: I called Good Humus to make sure they were Crookneck squash seeds so that was confirmed. We were able to communicate to the customer that it was a variety of crookneck squash just like there are different varieties of other commodities. -Christina, Produce Manager |
| Grocery |
Request that we carry: Alter Eco’s Salt and Malt Chocolate Bar |
Email Response: Thank you for reaching out to us with your request for Alter Eco’s Salt and Malt Chocolate Bar. We appreciate your feedback and are always eager to hear from our valued customers. Unfortunately, this item has been discontinued by our distributor, and after checking with our other distributors, we found that it is not currently available in our warehouse. We understand how disappointing this can be and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. We hope that the Salt and Malt Chocolate Bar will become available again in the future. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out with any other questions or suggestions you might have. We’re always here to help! Cooperatively, -Anna, Education and Outreach Specialist |
| Operations |
Comment: Good afternoon, I had heard that the Co-op had a “freedge,” so I brought some things to put in it yesterday (7/3). However, when I got there, the refrigerator was set to a very high temperature (hot, not cold) and the whole area around it was in disarray. It didn’t really look like this resource was being maintained by anyone. I’m wondering if the Co-op is still working to maintain this community service, or if perhaps something could be done to organize community members to maintain it ourselves and make sure that it functions properly. I don’t know anything about when it was set up or who is supposed to be monitoring it, but I just thought I’d reach out in case there’s something that could be done to help. Thanks. |
Email Response: Thank you for reaching out regarding our Freedge and your generous food donations to our community. The Freedge has been at the Co-op since 2020, but it’s important to note that we are just the host location and not the actual owners. All relevant information about the Freedge can be found at freedge.org, a non-profit organization that helps set up Freedges around the world. As hosts, we have limited capacity to maintain the Freedge fully. Our Marketing team has designated days to check on it, which includes cleaning the area, wiping down the inside, and restocking it with products from the Co-op that are no longer sellable but still edible. Our maintenance team also assists with cleaning. Over the past two years I have collaborated closely with The Night Market, which collects food from local restaurants and grocery stores, including ours, and distributes it to the community for free, no questions asked. Any leftover food is placed in our Freedge and the other four Freedges around Davis, with ours taking priority due to its high traffic. The Night Market team also helps tidy up the area when they have the time and the capacity for it. Despite these efforts, keeping the area tidy 24/7 remains a challenge. We always hope that the community who uses the Freedge can help maintain its cleanliness and the surrounding area, but we understand that this is not always the case. Regarding the temperature issues you mentioned, this has been an ongoing problem. The Freedge is exposed to the elements year-round, which affects its performance, especially in extreme weather conditions. It simply isn’t designed to withstand being outside all the time. Recently, someone from the community who works closely with the Night Market and the founders of The Freedge helped clean and repair parts of the unit. However, they found that the compressor is overworked and weak. I am also collaborating with another community member researching options for a new fridge to replace our current one. Ideally, these Freedges need to be replaced every 2-4 years. We are working with them and plan to donate funds once they present some options. We hope to replace the current Freedge soon so it can function at its fullest capacity, hopefully by the end of this year. I can happily keep you updated, and you can always email me with any questions you may have regarding the Freedge. Again, thank you for your concern and your willingness to help out. The Davis Food Co-op is dedicated to providing free access to healthy foods for our community, and we will continue our efforts to enhance and maintain the Freedge. Cooperatively, -Anna, Education and Outreach Specialist |
| Grocery |
Request that we carry: Hello, You used to carry Viral Vittles bread and it was always my favorite, Did you know that it is still available, even though the original bakery closed, from Alta Mira Bakery? https://altamirabaking.com/vital-vittles/ It would be wonderful to see it again! Thanks, Diane Cary |
Email response: I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to extend my gratitude to you for your suggestion regarding the potential return of Vital Vittles. We appreciate you informing us that this product is still available through Alta Mira Bakery. We are currently in communication with this vendor about possibly returning the product to our shelves. Although we previously carried the product, we are dedicated in researching whether this product still fits within the standards of the Davis Food Co-op. We are more than happy to provide updates to you as we gain further information. Once again, thank you for your valuable suggestion and for taking the time to share your insights with us. We look forward to updating you on our progress and findings as we continue our investigation. If you have any additional thoughts or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Warm regards, -Rocio, Operations Manager |
| Operations |
What if the Co-op did this? You really need a gender inclusive bathroom for your customers!! Can’t return to shop here until then. |
Email Response: Thank you for your concern regarding the restrooms at the Davis Food Co-op. I wanted to update you that we are actively working on plans to remodel both the deli and restrooms, which will include inclusive restrooms. However, due to the current store layout, we are limited in our ability to add additional restrooms. We are in the planning and development stages of this project and anticipate submitting a request for permits to the city in the near future.We understand that inclusive restrooms are important to you and hope to work with you to find ways to make you feel comfortable and welcomed in the meantime. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work towards these improvements, and we’ll keep you updated on our progress. -Eduardo, Facilities and Maintenance Manager |
| Grocery |
Request that we carry: I was disappointed to see a recent shift towards fake meats in your frozen foods, instead of actual vegetable-based foods. There is now an entire section dedicated to Impossible Meat, surrounded by similar products. This seems to come at the expense of Hilary’s veggie burgers (the beet ones were the best!), which is very disappointing. Some of us don’t want the heavy processing and lab work behind an Impossible burger and just want to eat recognizable foods. Any chance you can squeeze Hilary’s back in? Thank you. |
Email Response: Thank you for your recent Feedback Submission. We genuinely appreciate hearing from you, as your insights help us improve our product offerings and better serve our community. We understand your disappointment in seeing fewer vegetable-based options in our frozen foods section. Hilary’s products left our shelves back in March after their parent company, PlantPlus Foods, closed their business. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, as we know many customers, like yourself, enjoyed their veggie burgers. In response to customer requests, we have added a range of new items, including Impossible Meats, to provide more variety. We aim to cater to different dietary choices and preferences, and we understand that some customers prefer less processed foods. We would love to hear any additional recommendations you might have for items you don’t currently see on our shelves. We are always open to suggestions as we continue to evolve our product selection. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. If you have any more questions or comments, please feel free to reach out. Cooperatively, -Anna, Education and Outreach Specialist
|