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Frontier started out in 1976, offering difficult-to-find herbs, spices and botanicals to local co-ops. Since then, we've grown to become the trusted leader in top-quality natural and organic herbs, spices, seasonings and aromatherapy. |
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1978
These two early employee benefits set the tone for three decades of family-friendly and innovative benefits for Frontier workers. As we grew, these evolved into award-winning subsidized on-site childcare, gym and cafeteria (now organic) facilities, while creative services like a computer purchase plan and at-work haircuts and car care round out a generous traditional package of benefits. We believe a company that creates, produces, and markets wholesome, natural foods and personal care products should also focus on workplace policies and practices that promote personal well-being.
Frontier was an early leader in promoting organic products and the environmental and social benefits of organic agriculture. We have held that position of leadership throughout our 30-year history. We were the first to offer organic herbs and spices and first to be certified as an organic processor. We have provided ongoing support of the organic industry and organic agriculture worldwide with programs like the donation of 1% of Simply Organic sales to organic farming causes. We offer the industry's widest selection of organic botanical products for herbal, culinary and aromatherapy uses, and increasing the use of organic products worldwide is a key aspect of Frontier's mission—and the motivation for a new program to develop reliable and socially responsible suppliers of high-quality organics from around the world (CONVERT).
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in response to store requests
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1980
As a co-op, Frontier returns profits to its member/owners in the form of patronage refunds. Since the first check was sent out in March 1980, Frontier has returned almost $7 million dollars to members.
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1982
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1983
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1984
to allow non-co-operative stores to be Frontier members |
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1985
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1988
in response to consumer demand
Purchase additional 46 acres adjoining Norway site and |
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1989
Frontier was the first in the Natural Products Industry to use a natural CO2 process to control infestation in herbs and spices. This natural process allows us to avoid the use of chemical fumigants and provide greater purity in our products.
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for testing and developing methods of organic agriculture
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1991
, a line of gourmet, 100% organic coffee |
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1992
on 21 acres of Norway site.
Frontier hosted 13 HerbFest conferences. HerbFest was the country's largest annual conference on herbs and sustainable living, drawing as many as 1,425 participants each August to the Frontier site in Norway, Iowa. Recognized experts from around the country and the world led hundreds of seminars on natural living that were attended by people from all over the United States.
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1993
Working Mother magazine picks Frontier as one of the
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Working Mother magazine again picks Frontier as one of the
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1995
Another example of organic leadership, with Frontier using the expertise gained in sourcing organic herbs and spices to bring the first organic line of essential oils to the marketplace. Just as Frontier's early promotion of organic botanicals helped create the market for organics, this cutting-edge move into organic essential oils set new standards and built support for organic growth in aromatherapy.
For the third consecutive year, Working Mother magazine picks Frontier as one of the
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1996
The Goldenseal Project was created by Frontier to encourage the development of cultivated sources of goldenseal to counteract overharvesting of the plant's native populations. We converted all of our goldenseal to domestically grown, funded and conducted research and training to increase the number of commercial growers, and informed consumers about the threat to goldenseal populations and about more plentiful alternative herbs with properties similar to goldenseal.
The expansion of Frontier's in-house quality testing program to include gas chromatography testing for all oils allowed us to achieve a new level of control and make a truly meaningful guarantee of quality and purity. Our industry-leading quality-testing program with GC allows us to determine the chemical composition of oils to a greater degree of accuracy than other methods allow.
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Frontier given by Natural Products Expo
Frontier purchased 68 acres in the Appalachian region of Ohio and founded the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs (NCPMH) to preserve native populations of at-risk herbs and research methods of cultivating them to counter the effects of overharvesting. All results of the Center's research were made available to the public for free. The Center was donated to the community group Rural Action in 2002. |
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| 2000 |
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| 2001 |
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2002
(Frontier already in full compliance) The Simply Organic brand is Frontier's most ambitious effort to date to increasing the reach of organics with affordable, convenient culinary products that fit the modern lifestyle. Simply Organic's top quality, full-flavored organic spices, seasonings, mixes and baking flavors are priced to encourage converting from conventional spices. The increasing appetite of consumers for organic seasonings is reflected in the dominance of Simply Organic in market data each quarter.
Board creates committee to assume day-to-day operational control and rehires previous key managers. Return executive and management functions to Norway, Iowa |
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2003
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2004
The recent adoption of this new mission statement by management and the board of directors re-confirms the 30-year commitment Frontier has shown to promote and provide natural and organic products—and supports bold and ambitious efforts to develop new sources of natural and organic products around the world and create new products that will broaden the appeal of these alternatives in every marketplace.
We are proud to offer our selection of premium fair trade certified organic loose leaf teas. Fair Trade certification ensures standards are met for wages, living conditions and working conditions for tea pickers.
As when we implemented computerized order systems in 1980, Frontier is quick to embrace new technology and utilize it to better serve our customers. The new wholesale web site offers a new level of ordering convenience, and it provides valuable information resources. As we steadily expand and enhance our online service, we expect it to grow in importance to our customers. Over $2 million of sales have been placed on the wholesale site since it went online in September 2004. |
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2005
Frontier's Well Earth program was created to proactively find and develop high-quality and socially responsible organic suppliers around the world and partner with them in producing products and implementing social programs. Our first Well Earth partner is an Indian vanilla supplier that offers workers unusually good job opportunities and pay and contributes to feeding disadvantaged schoolchildren throughout India. Well Earth is a valuable tool in providing our customers with products of the very highest quality and integrity.
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Establish $1/hr childcare subsidy and employee lunch program
Begin selling other manufacturer's products
Frontier listed 78th on Inc. magazine's list of "America's Fastest Growing Companies"
Re-establish tall grass prairie 
Host first Herbfest
Create botanical garden at Norway site 
Launch first line of certified organic essential oils
Establish Goldenseal Project
Aura Cacia begins in-house Gas Chromatography testing program
Donate NCPMH to Rural Action
Establish Well Earth program to develop high quality and socially responsible suppliers around the world