Month: September 2026

A seamless pattern of various abstract food and kitchen-related icons in brown color on a black background. The icons include fruits, vegetables, kitchen utensils, and other related items, all arranged in a playful and repetitive manner.

An Open Letter to Owners from our General Manager
Posted on by Whole Foods Co-op

Hello Whole Foods Co-op Owners,

I am writing to you today to provide context about ongoing labor negotiations between UFCW 1189 and Whole Foods Co-op, our two-store consumer-owned cooperative with 140+ employees and 14,500+ Owners. While I have not felt the need to communicate with you about Union matters or labor negotiations in the past, I feel it’s important that you have some information about ongoing negotiations at the Co-op.

Since our employees voted to unionize in 2017, we have worked hard to develop and maintain a respectful and collaborative partnership with UFCW 1189. Staff are integral to our cooperative and we feel strongly that unionization has made the Co-op a stronger and better employer. 

Together, the Co-op and UFCW 1189 have successfully negotiated three labor contracts, most recently the three-year contract covering April 2023 through April 2026. Ahead of negotiations, the Co-op and the Union agreed to extend the current contract until a new contract was in place. 

Throughout the spring, we participated in five negotiation sessions. The Union bargaining committee was comprised of six current and former employees elected by the Co-op’s bargaining unit; they were joined at the bargaining table by several Union representatives. Management was represented by three members of the leadership team and our labor attorney at the bargaining table, with additional support provided by an administrative staff and two other leadership team members.

Negotiations covered many non-economic and economic aspects of the contract. The sessions were professional, productive, and positive throughout.

At the end of the fifth negotiation session, the Union and management reached a Tentative Agreement (TA). The Union bargaining committee agreed to recommend the TA to the bargaining unit. In June, members of the bargaining unit voted to reject the TA.

The Union and management agreed to return to the bargaining table, this time with the support of a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. In August, a new TA was reached. Earlier this month, members of the bargaining unit voted to reject the second TA.

While we are in uncharted territory for the Co-op, we are not at an impasse. We are working with the Union and the federal mediator to schedule another negotiation session. When we get back to the table, management will continue to bargain in good faith.

The Co-op remains committed to reaching an agreement that will be ratified by the bargaining unit. Employees are foundational to our cooperative, and positive labor relations remains a top priority. 

We appreciate your continued support of the Co-op as we work to reach agreement on a contract that all parties find mutually beneficial.

In cooperation,
Sarah Hannigan
Whole Foods Co-op General Manager

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We Love Our Local Farmers: An Open Letter to Local Growers and Food Producers
Posted on by Whole Foods Co-op
A black circle with an orange star at the top left and the word "LOCAL" in bold yellow letters centered below the star. The circle has a small triangular cutout on the lower right side.

At Whole Foods Co-op, ‘local’ is more than a buzzword. It represents a commitment to our neighbors.

We respect the physical, financial, and emotional investment our regional farmers pour into their work and we recognize how difficult but also how vital this work is, to not only feed the people in our region, but also to care for our land for the next generation. 

Whole Foods Co-op staff meet annually with some of our local farmers to reflect on the previous year and plan for the year ahead. 

This year, our Hillside Grocery Manager, Corrina, wrote a heartfelt letter to our farmers ahead of this meeting. The letter thoughtfully reflects how much everyone at the Co-op values the people doing the hard work that contributes to our regional food economy. We are grateful for her permission to share it with you.

An Open Letter to Our Local Farmers and Food Producers

To our local farmers and producers — thank you.

Thank you for the early mornings and the long days. Thank you for your care, your integrity, and your unwavering commitment to your land, your waters, your flocks and to this community. The dedication you bring to your products and your practices does not go unnoticed.

I continue to be amazed by this industry; by its resilience, innovation, perseverance, and heart. You manage changing markets, changing weather, changing regulations, equipment breakdowns, feed costs, fuel costs, and yet somehow still show up week after week with incredible products.

What you do isn’t just work — it’s a series of promises: a promise to steward land and water responsibly; a promise to feed families with food grown thoughtfully and ethically; a promise to strengthen the community that surrounds you.

What amazes me most isn’t just the hard work, though there’s plenty of that. It’s your stewardship. 

You’re not just growing vegetables, harvesting seafood, or producing eggs. You’re caring for land that was here long before us and protecting it for the people who will farm and fish it long after us. And that kind of long view is rare.

You make decisions today that won’t just affect this season’s yield, but the health of the soil and waters for years to come. You are always considering the sustainability of your operations for the next generation, whether that’s your kids, someone else’s kids, or young producers just getting started. We watch your patience, your tenacity, and your respect for the land and water. You show what’s possible, and you quietly set an example for that next generation of farmers, fishermen, and producers.

That’s leadership. And it’s something I deeply respect. 

Because of you, we’re able to offer food with a story, and that story is of food that’s grown and gathered with transparency and intention. You don’t just supply products, you build trust. You strengthen this community in ways that go far beyond what’s on a plate. 

There’s a humility in this work that I really admire. You don’t do it for applause. You do it because it matters. Because feeding people matters.

Stewarding land and water matters. Producing food with care and integrity matters. You are the connection, the resilience, and a driving force behind a thriving regional economy.

We don’t take that lightly.

Through your work, this isn’t just a food system that feeds us today — it’s one that will feed the next generation. And that’s something worth standing behind.

We are incredibly fortunate to partner with people who work as hard and care as much as you do. Thank you for the early mornings, the long seasons, the unpredictability, and for continuing to believe in local. 

You’re not just producing food — you’re protecting a future. And we’re proud to stand with you in that work.

So truly — thank you.

Corrina R., Hillside Grocery Manager

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