Durango Natural Foods Co-op was presented with the 13th annual Green Business Leadership Award for their 40 years of pioneering leadership as a member-owned cooperative committed to providing quality organic and local products and educating the community on the value of healthy living. Their history and comprehensive dedication to sustainability earned them the award, presented on February 11th at the Green Business Roundtable. The two other finalists were Alpine Bank and the Williams Ignacio Gas Processing Facility.
Durango Natural Foods Co-op, owned by over 1300 members, strives to maximize the amount of local produce and products it provides to its customers. Currently, between 20- 50% of produce sold in season and 7-10% of products throughout the store is locally and regionally produced. As a founding member of Local First, Durango Natural Foods understands the impact this has on the local economy as well as on the environment.
They demonstrate an exceptional level of dedication to community education by offering free classes on topics such as canning and mushroom hunting. After four decades, they are continuing to seek opportunities to lead and improve. As a part of 4CORE’s Resource Smart Business Program, for instance, DNF underwent a comprehensive sustainability audit and invested significantly in energy efficiency. Long before Durango had a city-wide recycling program, DNF served as a local collection site.
The Green Business Leadership Award recognizes businesses demonstrating leadership, risk, and innovation in utilizing environmentally responsible, healthy and profitable business practices. The selection committee is comprised of representatives from the Green Business Roundtable, San Juan Citizens Alliance, and past recipients of the award.
Past recipients of the Green Business Leadership Award include: Zia Tacqueria, Doubletree Hotel Durango, Linda’s Local Food Café, Shaw Solar, Carver Brewing Company, Tierra Group LLC, Durango Coffee Company, Lorax Forest Care, James Ranch, Phoenix Recycling, Sunnyside Meats, and The Smiley Building.
We have been proudly putting on the Green Business Roundtable and its affiliated Green Business Leadership Award for 13 years. We aim to educate and inspire those interested in green business. Held the second Wednesday of the month from September to April, participants are treated to a diverse array of presentations, a sustainably-sourced lunch, and exceptional networking opportunities.
