Kombucha: Comings and Goings
In August 2023, a Los Angeles court ruled that GT's Living Foods, the maker of Synergy Raw Kombucha, Alive Ancient Mushroom Elixir, and Cocoyo Living Coconut Yogurt, must pay over $450,000 to workers in restitution for unfair and unsafe labor practices.
Since then, we have received several inquiries from members wondering why we still sell this product. Removing a good product from the shelves is usually not our first choice; our goal is for companies and corporations to improve, because big companies and corporations are likely here to stay, so for the food system to get better, they must get better. A big company making improvements can have substantial ripple effects. And it does appear that GT's Living Foods is improving its practices since the lawsuit.
In the meantime, we are giving more space on our shelves to other brands of kombucha and reducing the amount of GT's kombucha. GT's products will only be on sale based on previously contracted Co-op Deals. We will not offer any in-house promotions on GT's line.
We are also spotlighting locally made kombucha and even offering sales on those items, because the best way to support the environment and prevent mistreatment of workers is to buy local products and shop seasonally. Still, we recognize not every customer has the time or the income to do this. Our members and shoppers have a wide range of needs and wants, and we will continue to do our best to help them eat well and to make informed choices.
This QR code was created by our Product Research Committee (PRC) to put on the shelf by the products to alert our shoppers to the issues we're tracking, so you can scan the code to get information on the situation. The National Cooperative Grocers (NCG, our co-op of co-ops) is helping us monitor the situation to see if it continues to improve. However, if you find any updated information, please pass it on to us.
Learn more about our Local 5 and Local WA kombucha producers:
BluJay Kombucha from Port Townsend, WA
https://www.blujaykombucha.com/
@blujaykombuchaIggy’s Alive & Cultured from Kingston, WA
https://iggys.com/
@iggysaliveandculturedKombucha Town from Bellingham WA
https://kombuchatown.com
@kombuchatownShen Zen Tea from Seattle, WA
https://shenzentea.com
@shenzenteaHuneyJun Kombucha from Leavenworth, WA
https://www.huneyjun.com/
@huneyjun