2023 Natural Grocers Environmental, Social, and Governance Report

Product Marketing and Education Communicating Standards In-Store

Natural Grocers ® provides customers with point-of-purchase information regarding our Egg Ranking System and our Meat & Seafood Ranking System. In the latter, we communicate through our Bronze, Silver, and Gold ranking tags, a brief Ranking Chart to detail the species-specific standards, and a QR code sign that links to our website standards page with full details. This messaging allows customers to make informed dietary and nutritional choices at the point of purchase.

Natural Grocers stores maintain detailed information tags on individual products and general store signage that identify our affordable pricing, product standards, dietary concerns, and local sourcing.

Stakeholder engagement with the “Meet Your Farmer” film series

This documentary film series tackles complex or lesser understood topics, including humane poultry processing, regenerative agronomy, and land management. These documentaries also highlight solution-oriented best practices and equip viewers to make informed decisions about the environmental impact of their food choices. Each film asks us to question the status quo of food production, while evoking a positive message of hope and transformation. The short documentary Ghosts of the Great Plains was nominated for the Heartland Emmy Award in 2020.

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE SM

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE SM

BRONZE SUSTAINABLY FARMED HUMANELY RAISED NO antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants NO animal by-products NO cloned or genetically NON-GMO alfalfa (ruminants) NO synthetic colorants (seafood) modified animals BRONZE + GOLD INCLUDES BRONZE, BRONZE + & SILVER STANDARDS CERTIFIED ORGANIC and/or other regenerative farming practices (poultry, pork) WILD CAUGHT & SUSTAINABLY CERTIFIED (seafood, boar) 100% U.S. DOMESTIC (ruminants, poultry, pork) INCLUDES BRONZE STANDARDS DEEPLY BEDDED PENS (pork) SILVER INCLUDES BRONZE & BRONZE + STANDARDS SUSTAINABLY SOURCED (seafood) FREE RANGE (poultry) 100% GRASS FED (ruminants) CERTIFIED ORGANIC and/or other regenerative farming practices (ruminants, seafood) NON-GMO feed BRONZE + INCLUDES BRONZE STANDARDS DEEPLY BEDDED PENS (pork) OUR STANDARDS Our prices make quality affordable; our Standards ensure a healthy tomorrow. From Bronze to Silver to Gold, we believe our Quality Standards are the best around. Bronze ensures all the products we sell are humanely raised and sustainably farmed and/or sourced. This means antibiotics, hormones, growth promotants, and animal by-products are prohibited and that humane animal care, ample space, and environments that encourage natural behaviors are required. Silver and Gold include all Bronze requirements and, since Bronze covers animal welfare and crucial environmental practices, our Silver and Gold Standards focus on bold regenerative farming and fishing practices that safeguard a healthy planet for future generations. BRONZE SUSTAINABLY FARMED HUMANELY RAISED NO antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants NO animal by-products NO cloned or genetically modified animals

MEAT & SEAFOOD EXOTIC VARIETIES HIGHEST QUALITY SELECTIONS

A STORY OF QUALITY PRIORITIZING OUR PLANET IS THE WAY WE DO FOOD We believe the wellbeing of our communities and our planet prospers when our food is humanely raised and sustainably sourced. We can create a healthy future by what we choose to put on our plates. That’s why we partner with local farmers, ranchers and fishermen and women who protect our waterways, regenerate our grasslands, reverse soil erosion and preserve habitats for future generations. When the health of all living things is the foundation for farming practices, we promote economic viability and environmental harmony. Our meat and seafood departments are unique. We only offer selections produced in ways that nurture the health of animals, our communities and the planet. We emphasize freshness, preventing food waste, local products and transparency not fancy display cases and ambiguous standards. Instead of display counters, with previously frozen products, we just have the best selection at the best prices—with sustainability as our guiding principle. In addition to the assortment of highest quality cuts, grinds, bacons, and sausages in our fresh cases, we carry both traditional and exotic varieties of meat and seafood in our frozen section. Find protein with a purpose when you shop our wide variety and boring will never describe your menu again—unless it’s boar you’re after. A healthier tomorrow begins today. MEAT & SEAFOOD EXOTIC VARIETIES HIGHEST QUALITY SELECTIONS AFFORDABLE PRICES, LOCAL PRODUCTS AND MORE VARIETY

COCONUT LIME SHRIMP

OUR STANDARDS SILVER INCLUDES BRONZE & BRONZE+ STANDARDS NON-GMO feed NON-GMO alfalfa (ruminants) NO synthetic colorants (seafood) FREE RANGE (poultry) 100% GRASS FED (ruminants) CERTIFIED ORGANIC and/or other regenerative farming practices (ruminants, seafood) SUSTAINABLY SOURCED (seafood) 3 cloves organic garlic 1 tablespoon Natural Grocers Brand Organic Coconut Aminos 1/4 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon Natural Grocers Brand Bulk Organic Red Chili Flakes 2 tablespoons Natural Grocers Brand Bulk Organic Shredded Coconut 1 pound frozen peeled and deveined tail-on organic shrimp ½ cup Natural Grocers ® Brand Organic Original Coconut Milk Zest and juice of 1 organic lime (about 1 teaspoon zest and 1/4 cup juice) INGREDIENTS

Total Time: 45 min.

Serving Size: 4

INSTRUCTIONS

Examples of in-store product attribute education messaging, in this case for our Meat and Seafood standards:

GOLD INCLUDES BRONZE, BRONZE+ & SILVER STANDARDS CERTIFIED ORGANIC and/or other regenerative farming practices (poultry, pork) 100% U.S. DOMESTIC (ruminants, poultry, pork) WILD CAUGHT & SUSTAINABLY CERTIFIED (seafood, boar) 2. In a blender, combine the coconut milk, lime juice and zest, garlic, coconut aminos, salt, and chili flakes and blend until well combined and uniform in texture. Drain the shrimp, place in a shallow bowl, and cover with coconut lime marinade. Marinate at room temperature for the next 30 minutes or longer in the refrigerator. 3. Drain the shrimp and discard the marinade. Arrange the shrimp on another baking sheet in a single layer and sprinkle coconut shreds on top. Place in the oven and roast until shrimp are opaque and tinged pink, 6–9 minutes. Watch the shrimp closely to ensure they do not overcook. Remove from the oven and serve. FIND THESE RECIPES & MORE @ naturalgrocers.com/recipe-finder 1. Preheat oven to 400º F. Place frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water while making the marinade.

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FISCAL YEAR | 2023