2024 Natural Grocers Sustainability Report

PLANET

QUALITY

NUTRITION EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

CREW

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE SM PRICING

PEOPLE

ANIMAL WELFARE

HEALTH

Committed to Offering Humanely Raised and Sustainably Sourced Meat and Seafood

OUR STANDARDS

Our high standards for humanely raised and sustainably sourced meats and seafood are anchored in taking responsibility for the entire lifecycle of animals raised for human consumption and its impact on animal welfare, human health, and the planet. For these reasons, our basic standard, Bronze, usually matches the highest standard found at many of our competitors’ grocery stores and farmer’s markets. We rely on the latest research and the diligence of our in-house Quality Standards Team to ensure our Meat and Seafood Standards are consistent with our values. MEMBER OF THE U.S. WORKING GROUP FOR BROILER CHICKEN WELFARE The Better Chicken Commitment is the leading set of standards for broiler welfare driving the food industry towards higher welfare practices. We are excited to be part of the Working Group to improve the broiler chicken industry and leading the way for better transparency, a more humane world, and a better environment for animals and humans alike. With the right course correction, animal agriculture has the power to improve the land, the lives of the people who raise crops and animals, and provide high-quality food access to all.

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)

BRONZE SUSTAINABLY FARMED HUMANELY RAISED NO antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants NO animal by-products NO cloned or genetically modified animals BRONZE + INCLUDES BRONZE STAN DARDS DEEPLY BEDDED PENS (pork)

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)

STUDY SHOWS HIGHER NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF PASTURE BEEF

A study published in 2024 by Nature Scientific Reports assessed over 1,500 metabolic compounds in beef from two commercial US-based farms: beef finished on biodiverse Western U.S. rangelands compared to beef that was grain finished in a Midwest U.S. feedlot. The study highlights that cattle finished on pasture rather than grain exhibit improved metabolic health, resulting in more nutritious beef. Pasture finished beef contains higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, plant-phytonutrient antioxidants, and essential vitamins like vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and niacin (vitamin B3) compared to grain-finished beef. These findings suggest that grass-fed beef may offer enhanced nutritional benefits, making it a healthier option for consumers. The study also points out the potential environmental advantages of pasture based cattle farming. By profiling over 1,500 compounds across multiple metabolic classes, this study is the most in-depth comparison of beef from two US finishing systems to date.

More info is available at: Better Chicken Commitment

Evans, N., Cloward, J., Ward, R.E. et al. Pasture-finishing of cattle in Western U.S. range lands improves markers of animal metabolic health and nutritional compounds in beef. Sci Rep 14, 20240 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71073-3

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FISCAL YEAR | 2023