Share the HEALTH:
A message about novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
from Troy Bond, General Manager
Dear Berkshire Food Co-op supporters,
I want to acknowledge the concerns around COVID-19 and its impact on our community. The management staff and I take the health and safety of our Co-op community seriously. We assure you, our Owners and customers, that we are taking every step to ensure best practices during this time. We are closely monitoring the current COVID-19 outbreak and following the recommendations of the CDC, FDA, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Here is a general overview of how the Co-op is ensuring best practices in our store:
Co-op Preparedness
The health and safety of our community is our number one priority. Our existing practices focus heavily on sanitation and food safety. We have increased our use of sanitizing agents across the store, including implementing more frequent sanitation of check-out areas, baskets and carts, and door handles. We are working to increase our standard orders of shelf stable items, however, we have experienced supply chain interruptions. It is likely we may continue to experience high demand for certain food and non-food items throughout our store. We will do our best to keep our community informed of any out of stock items and will actively seek alternatives when possible.
Food Safety
We take food safety very seriously. Our staff must follow a strict set of procedures when handling a wide variety of products from prepared foods to fresh items, and even packaged items across our various departments. We faithfully comply with food handling certification requirements including staff who are ServSafe® certified.
Staff Wellness
In addition to reminding our staff of proper sanitation and hand-washing techniques, as well as continuously updating communication around COVID-19, we offer generous paid time off, and encourage staff to err on the side of caution should any concern over well-being arise.
Co-op management encourages staff to use their paid time off, stay home, and reduce the spread of illness.
Feel free to contact me with any concerns as the situation around COVID-19 develops.
(413) 528-9697