Our Sourcing Standards

At Central Oregon Locavore, we believe the way food and products are grown, raised, crafted, and sourced matters. Our standards are a compass, guiding us toward the health of our community and the land.

Whenever possible, we prioritize:

  • Local and regional sourcing

  • Organic practices

  • Transparency

  • Low-waste packaging

  • Nutrient-dense ingredients

  • Humane animal care

  • Small-scale producers

  • Integrity

We strictly avoid synthetic chemicals and believe that high standards are about constant motion toward collective health.

Rancher Standards

We believe animals should be raised humanely, responsibly, and in alignment with the natural behaviors of the species.

Our meat and animal products come from ranchers who prioritize pasture access, humane handling, transparency, and environmental stewardship. We prioritize livestock raised locally whenever possible and require that products be traceable back to the ranch where they were raised.

Core Pillars

  • Local First – All livestock comes from ranches within 200 miles
  • Animal Welfare – Animals are raised humanely, with access to fresh air, sunshine, and pasture
  • All meats are processed at USDA-inspected facilities
  • Transparency – Ranchers share their practices openly, complete annual questionnaires, and agree to site visits
  • Identity Preservation – Meat is sold only from the ranch where it was raised
  • Additional Options – Some producers also offer soy-free, corn-free, or 100% grass-finished animals to meet customer needs

  • NOT ALLOWED

Confinement feedlots, no access to green pasture, direct from auction, or inhumane animal husbandry practices.

Some producers also offer specialty practices such as soy-free, corn-free, grass-finished, or heirloom breeds. These attributes are listed on their profiles in the marketplace.

Pillars of Cultivation

  • Organic Practices – Grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers (certified or not)
  • Identity preservation – Farmers can track a product from seed to shelf ensuring traceability and maintaining a food safe distribution system
  • Soil Health – Preference for farms that practice regenerative and soil-building methods
  • Transparency – Farmers disclose their practices and agree to occasional site visits
  • Worker Care – Producers treat workers fairly and provide safe conditions
  • Packaging – Produce is delivered with minimal or recyclable packaging

  • NOT ALLOWED

No chemical coatings (like Apeel), no soil-depleting practices, no mislabeling of other farms’ products

We believe local food means fresher food, greater nutritional value, shorter transportation distances, and a stronger local economy.

Produce Standards

We prioritize produce grown with practices that support healthy soil, healthy ecosystems, and healthy communities.

Many of our farmers follow organic principles, even when formal certification is not financially realistic for small farms. We value transparency, regenerative growing methods, and minimal chemical use over marketing labels alone.

Pantry Standards

Our pantry standards are designed to balance clean ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and practical flexibility for small producers.

We prioritize products made with recognizable ingredients, minimal processing, and transparent sourcing while supporting local and values-driven food makers.

What We Prioritize

  • Whole-food and minimally processed ingredients
  • Organic or organically aligned sourcing
  • Local and regional pantry producers
  • Transparent ingredient labeling
  • Low-waste packaging
  • Fair trade and responsibly sourced ingredients when applicable
  • WHAT WE AVOID
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Trans fats and hydrogenated oils
  • Excessive artificial additives
  • Certain chemical compounds including parabens, phthalates, SLS/SLES, EDTA, and DEHP
  • Chemical produce coatings and peel sprays

We also recognize that small-scale food production is nuanced. Products are evaluated holistically, with consideration given to ingredient quality, sourcing, function, and overall alignment with Locavore values rather than rigid perfection standards.

What We Prioritize

  • Local and small-scale makers
  • low-toxicity ingredients
  • Clear ingredient disclosure
  • Minimal synthetic fragrance
  • Refillable, recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging
  • Cruelty-free and environmentally responsible practices

  • WHAT WE AVOID

  • Parabens
  • Phthalates
  • SLS and SLES
  • Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
  • Heavy synthetic fragrance loads
  • Excessive artificial dyes
  • Misleading “greenwashing” marketing

We understand formulation and preservation can be complex, especially for small makers. Products are reviewed holistically based on ingredient integrity, transparency, intended use, and overall alignment with our values.

Home Goods & Skincare Standards

We believe the products used in your home and on your body matter just as much as the food you eat.

Our home care, skincare, and personal care standards prioritize cleaner ingredients, transparency, low-toxicity formulations, and environmentally responsible practices.

Our goal is simple: to offer products that support healthier homes, healthier bodies, and a healthier planet