PCC Community Markets Launches Inclusive Trade Program

PCC Community Markets— the largest community-owned food market in the U.S. and one of Seattle’s original grocers — today debuts the PCC Inclusive Trade Program, a new product standard designed to increase awareness of and support for businesses owned by individuals who identify as members of historically and currently excluded communities. PCC’s Inclusive Trade Program recognizes suppliers who self-identify as belonging to one or more of the standard’s categories, including Women-Owned; Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) or Person of Color (POC)-Owned; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Transgender (LGBTQIA+)-Owned; Veterans and Service-Disabled Veterans-Owned or Persons with Disabilities-Owned. There is also an option for suppliers who meet the category requirements to opt into the program without specifying a category.

“As a result of historic and continued prejudice, these communities are deliberately disadvantaged and face barriers in starting businesses and expanding market share,” said PCC Senior Director of Merchandising Justine Johnson. “The co-op’s mission is to ensure that good food nourishes the communities we serve while cultivating vibrant local, organic food systems. As PCC enters its 70th year, we acknowledge our role in systemic and historical exclusion of people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, veterans, persons with disabilities and others as we begin to help break down those barriers. The launch of Inclusive Trade is one step. We have a long journey ahead to create lasting change, and PCC looks forward to continuing to learn from our suppliers, members and broader community on how to improve and evolve our program.”

Participating vendors and suppliers are identified and celebrated through PCC’s in-store and online shopping experiences so consumers can select businesses and products from communities they wish to support or see themselves represented in.

“It is truly an honor,” notes XOBC Cellars Founding Partner Jeri Andrews, “to participate in PCC’s Inclusive Trade Program. The reason Brandi and Catherine Carlile, my wife, Amy and our winemaking partner Sean Boyd chose to showcase the fact that our winery is women and LGBTQ owned is because we believe representation matters. In an industry where less than 6 percent of wineries identify as women owned and less than 2 percent identify as LGBTQ+ owned, we believe XOBC provides an opportunity for consumers to truly shop their values. The ethos of this program matches ours in that we are striving to make advances in true diversification and representation. Our profits benefit Looking Out Foundation, so we stand firmly behind our sentiment that raising a glass can make a difference, too.”

The adoption of Inclusive Trade advances PCC’s commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).