PCC Community Markets

Rating
Products	Fluid Milk, Cheese
Website	https://www.pccmarkets.com/
Market Area	WA
Total Score	225

Puget Consumers Co-op, doing business as PCC Community Markets, is a food cooperative based in Seattle, Washington. PCC is the largest consumer-owned food cooperative in the United States. Both members and non-members may shop at the retail locations, but members receive certain discounts.

PCC Community Markets is a “store brand” that did not fully participate in Cornucopia’s investigation. However, PCC Community Markets is more transparent than most store brands in that they list the milk supplier on their branded organic cheese products.

Since PCC Community Markets and their milk suppliers did not fully participate in Cornucopia’s survey and investigation, it impacted the information we provide here along with their score. If you are a customer of this brand, please reach out and ask them (and their supplier) to cooperate with Cornucopia’s investigation!

PCC also has it’s own animal welfare standards for fluid milk. PCC requires that all fresh milk be either certified organic or from cows (or goats) raised on non-GMO feed (this standard does not yet apply to other dairy products). PCC also has standards for no antibiotics or hormones, guaranteed access to outdoors, and more.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	225	2-Cow Rating | Fair
Transparency and Disclosure	50	Did not participate in Cornucopia’s survey, but does list some suppliers on their packaging (a rare transparency for a store brand) while other suppliers are unknown
Brands that rate highest have a close relationship to their milk suppliers. Those that buy milk from industrial or unknown organic suppliers rate lowest. Milk Supply and Ownership Structure	25	PCC is a co-op store which benefits members and allows them to have strict standards for the foods they carry; not all the milk supply is known
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in the organic systems that benefit us all. Commitment to Organic Label	25	PCC focuses on organic foods, where possible, for their store brands
Pasture management refers to how outdoor areas are managed, with top-rated brands utilizing multiple strategies to maintain high quality pasture, providing environmental and animal welfare benefits. Pasture Management	25	Suppliers likely met minimum organic requirements for pasturing and cattle diet
The grass-fed percentage category reflects diet, with top-rated brands far exceeding the minimum requirements laid out in the organic pasture rule. Grass Fed Percentage	25	Suppliers likely met minimum organic requirements for pasturing and cattle diet
This category focuses on the sourcing of feed, supplements, and any added ingredients in the diet. The category also accounts for brands that source organic dairy from other operations. Top-rated brands produce all feed on farm or buy inputs locally. Supplemental Feed and Ingredients	0	Unknown
Industry standard is to immediately remove calves from their mothers and individually house them. High scores in this area show that brand suppliers use group housing or otherwise promote calf socialization. Calves	0	Unknown
High scoring brands milk only once or twice per day, allowing maximum time for cows to be outside exhibiting natural behaviors. Times Milked Per Day	0	Unknown
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	0	Unknown
Brands that closely monitor environmental factors, including soil and water quality, native species, and wildlife, receive the most points. Brands with specific policies and programs to boost environmental sustainability also receive high points. Environmental Impacts and Stewardship	50	PCC has specific brand policies for environmental impact
Brands with specific policies and practices to support animal welfare score best. Brands may lose points in this category if they have a history of animal welfare concerns. Animal Welfare	25	PCC has specific animal welfare standards
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Unknown
Third-party labels carried by individual brands or product lines are listed here for more information. These are not scored, but some third-party labels may receive extra credit. Add On Labels (Informational)		See packaging
Herd size refers to the number of adult cows in the milking herd. The general denotation for herd size (large, medium, and small) is based on the legal definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation”. Herd Size(s) (Informational)		Unknown
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit	0	None
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes	0	None