This post will be updated as new information emerges. Last updated 1/29/21.
People’s Food Co-op is closely monitoring the news about COVID-19 and its spread in our region. For as long as we’re able to remain open and provide food to our community, we will be taking all the precautions we can to protect our staff and shoppers. During this uncertain time, staff will be implementing new measures to keep our community safe and the store clean. These changes may be implemented with little or no advance notice to our community, and we thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this situation.
Shopping Guidelines & Requests for our Community
Masks are required for both shoppers and staff.
All customers 5-years and older are required to wear a mask or face covering while inside the store and on Co-op property, including the courtyard. Masks and face coverings should fit snugly on your face and cover both your nose and your mouth at all times.
Acceptable face coverings include:
Disposable paper masks
Medical masks
Cloth masks
Gaiters and bandanas (only if they are doubled so there is two layers of fabric and they cover the nose and extend below the chin, as per CDC and OHA guidelines)
NOT acceptable face coverings include:
Face shields are not an acceptable face covering. The use of face shields alone without a mask underneath are not effective in stopping aerosols and are therefore not effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.
If a customer only has a face shield, we will offer them a paper mask to wear under their face shield.
If a customer is unable to wear a mask under their face shield, we will direct them to our Curbside shopping program.
Masks with valves are not an acceptable face covering. Exhaled droplets and aerosols must be filtered to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
If a customer only has a mask with valves, we will offer them a paper mask they can wear instead, or alongside their mask with valves.
If this option is not acceptable, we will direct them to our Curbside shopping program.
Please do not come in if you’re sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
To reduce the transmission of COVID-19 as well as other pathogens in our bulk and produce sections, we require customers to either wash or sanitize their hands.
We have a sink in our customer bathroom, and a sink right outside of it, too! Alcohol-based, unscented hand sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol) is provided for all customers while shopping at the Co-op.
Effective 7/6, reusable containers are allowed at the Co-op again. Reusable containers must be empty and sanitized.
Reusable containers were temporarily banned from the Co-op since 3/25/20. The ban has been lifted.
Please wash and sanitize your reusable containers before bringing them into the Co-op to fill with bulk foods and groceries. When shopping in bulk, always use a funnel to fill your empty containers, and please do not touch the mouth of your container directly to any bulk dispenser, scoop, tongs, etc.
Please continue to bag your own groceries if you bring your own shopping bags.Cough or sneeze into your elbow to limit spread of germs, and sanitize or wash your hands afterward.
In general, refrain from touching your face in the store and in other public spaces.
Please do not eat or hang out in the Co-op.
While we consider the Co-op a community hub where folks can gather, we request that you do not eat or hang out and socialize in the Co-op or courtyard during this time. Absolutely no “sampling” from the bulk section allowed (ever!).
Pay with a card or contactless payment.
If you have access to a credit, debit, or EBT card, please use one of those instead of cash at checkout if you’re able to, or use Apple Pay or Google Pay. This will help limit staff exposure to the many germs that money carries.
Need-to-Know Information
Our current hours are 10am-8pm daily until further notice (as of 1/3/21)
In order for our dedicated staff to practice the CDC and OSHA’s social distancing recommendations, only 10 shoppers will be allowed in the store at a time (as of 3/17/20).
Our staff will manage a queue in the courtyard and let you know when it’s your turn to go in and shop. Please remember to keep 6 feet of distance between you and other shoppers waiting. Please shop alone if possible – each additional person you bring along will count toward our 10-person limit.
We are now accepting 10¢ bottle returns.
Our Community Room is closed until further notice (as of 3/13/20).
Community Room Rentals: If you’ve rented the room for a public or private event through April, unfortunately your rental will have to be cancelled or postponed.
Sponsored Events: If you’re hosting a sponsored event within the next 2-3 months, unfortunately your event will also have to be postponed or cancelled.
The Community Room Coordinator will be in touch with you as soon as they can regarding the cancellations and postponing of events. Please be patient as they may have many people to coordinate with.
Event Attendees: If you’ve purchased tickets to an event in our Community Room, the event host should be in touch with you about the event, and let you know whether your ticket cost can be refunded or used at a later date.
Staff Actions to Keep the Store Clean
All staff are required to follow our masking guidelines onsite.
Disinfecting frequently-handled surfaces throughout the store, including checkout areas, door handles, bulk bins and jars, scoops and more using alcohol-based cleaning solutions.
Cashiers are taking additional time to wipe down and disinfect checkout areas between transactions.
The self-serve coffee and tea station, the Sun Room, and the children’s play area are all closed
Staff who are displaying any symptoms of communicable illness will be advised to stay at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
