this article contains content that is written like an advertisement . please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view . august 2013 learn how and when to remove this template message a major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject . it may require cleanup to comply with wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view . please discuss further on the talk page . march 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message this article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral . please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources . march 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message frontier natural products co op type retailers cooperative industry consumer products founded 1976 1976 norway iowa founder rick stewart headquarters norway iowa united states area served united states canada key people tony bedard ceo clint landis cmo bill kooistra cfo 1 products herbs spices foods teas personal care number of employees 293 2008 website frontiercoop.com frontier natural products co op is a wholesaler of natural and organic products founded in 1976 and based in norway iowa . it sells products under the frontier simply organic and aura cacia brands . 2 products include culinary herbs spices and baking flavors ; bulk herbs and spices ; and natural and organic aromatherapy products . frontier manufactures and distributes products throughout the united states and canada . 3 contents 1 environmental and social sustainability 2 fair trade 3 organics 4 corporate responsibility 5 see also 6 notes 7 external links environmental and social sustainability edit in april 2007 frontier introduced the well earth program to develop ethical sources for its products . the program screens potential suppliers with an extensive questionnaire and on site visits to evaluate product quality operational sustainability environmental practices and social responsibility . suppliers accepted into the program work with frontier to maximize agricultural environmental and social initiatives with ongoing financial incentives for improved performance in those areas . the well earth program also provides direct financial contributions as well as assistance with grants and other outside funding for social and environmental programs in grower communities . 4 5 fair trade edit in july 2004 frontier announced the addition of five usda certified organic bulk teas that are also fair trade certified through transfair usa . frontier will absorb the additional costs of the fair trade certification by offering the five teas jasmine ceylon orange pekoe darjeeling gunpowder and black chai without a price increase . 6 frontier currently offers over 30 fair trade certified products including herbs teas cocoa sugar and vanilla . 7 transfair usa s audit system which tracks products from farm to finished product verifies industry compliance with fair trade criteria . transfair usa licenses companies to display the fair trade certified label on products that meet strict international fair trade standards . 8 organics edit in october 2001 frontier introduced simply organic a line of 100 % certified organic foods . at present some of the products bearing the simply organic label are not organic due to the difficulty of sourcing organic spices . 9 frontier offers spices and seasoning blends under the frontier brand and essential oils and personal care products under the aura cacia organics brand . 10 corporate responsibility edit frontier has made a number of efforts to reduce energy consumption and waste reduction including biodegradable packaging and reduced materials packaging . 11 in 2007 frontier natural products published its first sustainability report . frontier stated in a recent media article that a published report helps their member owners assess their commitment to sustainable business practices and helps the company identify wasted resources . 12 in february 2007 the company announced it had purchased renewable energy credits to cover 100 % of the electrical energy used at its iowa and colorado facilities . 13 in september 2007 frontier became one of the first distribution centers to provide 100 % carbon neutral shipping by implementing a program to calculate the emissions of its order shipping by purchasing renewable energy credits through bonneville environmental foundation bef . 14 frontier has been involved in preserving wild herbs and native plant species 15 by either physically rescuing plants in volunteer groups financially supporting native plant rescues re establishing local tall grass prairie and protecting plants from the practice of wild crafting through sustainable cultivation methods . 16 see also edit list of food companies notes edit http www.frontiercoop.com company mgmt.html retrieved on 11 24 08 cooperative grocer magazine september 2007 network news finding common co op messages . kelly smith p. 8 restaurant news of the rockies january 2008 volume 23 number 1 massage magazine october 2007 p. 111 organic products retailer july august 2007 p. 18 http www.frontiercoop.com mediaroom pressreleasearchive.html retrieved on 11 26 08 7 27 04 organic fair trade teas added to frontier bulk http www.frontiercoop.com products fairtrade.php retrieved on 11 24 08 http www.transfairusa.org content about index.php retrieved on 11 24 08 http www.simplyorganicfoods.com simplyorganic aboutso.html retrieved on 11 24 08 http www.frontiercoop.com products.html retrieved on 12 01 08 http www.frontiercoop.com mediaroom pressreleasearchive.html 10 16 08 frontier debuts biodegradable packing material 09 09 08 new consumer friendly packaging for bottled spices from frontier natural products co op retrieved on 12 01 2008 edge business may 2008 p. 10 http www.frontiercoop.com sustainabilityreport index.html retrieved on 12 01 2008 http www.frontiercoop.com mediaroom pressreleasearchive.html 02 02 07 frontier natural products co op gets green with energy retrieved on 12 01 2008 http www.frontiercoop.com mediaroom pressreleasearchive.html 09 27 07 order shipping goes green at frontier natural products co op retrieved on 12 01 08 http www.frontiercoop.com mediaroom pressreleasearchive.html 10 30 06 frontier natural products co op works to rescue native plants retrieved on 12 01 2008 organic products retailer july august 2008 p. 18 external links edit frontier natural products co op official website retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title frontier natural products co op & oldid 741409025 categories companies based in iowafood manufacturers of the united statesfood cooperativeshidden categories articles with a promotional tone from august 2013all articles with a 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