We think that the way that food is grown or raised is just as important as how it's prepared, and our product selection reflects that. Whenever possible, we buy from small-scale local producers who use sustainable and/or organic practices and employ artisanal techniques. The following terms are found on products throughout the store:

Sustainable: When a food is labeled with "sustainable," it means that it has been grown/raised using practices that are beneficial for the environment as well as for the people who were involved in its production. In this way, social responsibility and responsibility to the land are of paramount importance. Bi-Rite is listed in the Eat Well Guide, an online resource to help consumers find and support sustainably-minded businesses.

Local: Lately there has been a lot of discussion about the benefits of eating locally. Authors such as Eric Schlosser, and more recently, Michael Pollan, have raised public awareness of the benefits of supporting locally-based food producers. Local foods are fresher, use minimal resources (especially in transport), and are more likely to come from smaller, family-run operations. To help you choose foods that are local and in-season in the SF Bay area, Bi-Rite is pleased to carry the Local Foods Wheel.

Read an excerpt of Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dillemma.

Watch an entertaining and informative video on The True Cost of Food.

Organic: Foods that are labeled "organic" have been produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or conventional pesticides. For meat and poultry, it means the animals were raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic foods are less harmful to our bodies and to the earth.

Slow Food: Slow Food is an international movement that supports alternatives to fast food and homogenized food systems. Specifically, Slow Food encourages use of artisanal techniques, preservation of locally-based foodways, and promotion of agricultural biodiversity.