Slog - Comments on Pioneer Organics to Merge With Rival

Comment by RonK, Seattle

RonK, Seattle — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:23:42 -0800

"Rival"? Aren't they, like, dogfood?

Comment by kinaidos

kinaidos — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:43:31 -0800

One environmental disaster masquerading as somehow eco-sensitive merges with another. Big deal. Try a real share program if you want to do something for yourself, your community, and the planet. This sort of this is just yuppie convenience.

Comment by kinaidos

kinaidos — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:45:59 -0800

Of course I presume you are already walking or cycling to your grocery store. If not you are already lost, and you might as well pick a slightly less onerous way of being an obnoxious high footprint piece of selfish human detritus.

Comment by brad

brad — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:12:46 -0800

First Flexcar, now Pioneer Organics. I hope that SPUD's website doesn't suck. Pioneer Organics website is great.

Comment by Justin J

Justin J — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:25:40 -0800

Michael Knight? Of Knight Industries 2000?

Comment by Dawgson

Dawgson — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:12:16 -0800

Not to wade into another "cars are evil" argument, but what if you live too far from a good organic market to bike there? What if you can't afford to live in the urban center? Most of these services charge prices that are competitive with brick and mortar stores, so can we try not to judge people who are just trying to do what they can to help the earth and their bodies?

Comment by Dawgson

Dawgson — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:15:13 -0800

ALSO: Mergers MEAN more buying power MEAN better prices or higher profits. This allows them to offer better deals and expand their service. It's a slippery slope but this can be another form of positive collective action.

Comment by Alex R. Mayer

Alex R. Mayer — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:32:40 -0800

Wow! There was no mention of this development in the newsletter which came with our order this week. Just another lovey-dovey peace and goodwill message from Ronny Bell. I don't relish sending my money to Canadian hosers.

Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale

Lloyd Clydesdale — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:36:06 -0800

Oh noes, I must be a yuppie!

If you want to give a look at a local organic produce elivery company that focuses on Western Wa, seasonal produce, you can give New Roots a look. Different than Pioneer, but I throw the thumbs up.

www.newrootsorganics.com/

Comment by Paulus

Paulus — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:25:03 -0800

I second New Roots.

Comment by former Pioneer Organics customer

former Pioneer Organics customer — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:43:19 -0800

I used to be a Pioneer Organics customer. But, I got tired of the relatively high price and poor quality of their produce. I am back to farmers markets and PCC and feel like I get better products for a better value. And, I don't have to see the quite silly and unnecessary weekly "column" from the Pioneer Organics "founder".

Comment by Steve

Steve — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:42:30 -0800

Well it sounds like another local company that I enjoyed has been lost to modern big business multinational consolidation. Just all the more reason to support local farm CSA's and PCC I suppose.

Sad to hear this happened.

Comment by bitter ex employee

bitter ex employee — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:36:56 -0800

eh, ronny's a putz anyway and i hope the SPUD people are better to their employees, maybe it will spill over.

Comment by COMTE

COMTE — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:49:35 -0800

I third New Roots - best thing I've ever done for myself food-wise.

Comment by wbrproductions

wbrproductions — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:06:09 -0800

kinaidos - do you eat your own detrius? Why do you give a fuck where I buy my vegetables? What zip code of nuts to you live in to equate Pioneer Organics to My Lackey? What the mother fuck is up your ass?

Comment by non sequitur

non sequitur — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:28:41 -0800

I've been with Pioneer Organics for quite a while now and I've generally been very pleased with their quality and service. I like that they have added groceries as it means I hardly need to set foot in to a QFC.

I think think if they ever opened a Whole Foods (or maybe a PCC) in Wallingford I might consider dropping them, but having my groceries magically appear on my porch is extremely convenient.

I can't drive and bussing to PCC Freemont is a pain for any large quantity of stuff.

Comment by Dawgson

Dawgson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:19:57 -0800

@15: Thanks for saying that. I get tired of saying "Not all change is bad, not all growth is harmful."

@16: I would cry such tears of joy for either one.

Comment by Dawgson

Dawgson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:33:31 -0800

@15: Thanks for saying that. I get tired of saying "Not all change is bad, not all growth is harmful."

@16: I would cry such tears of joy for either one.

Comment by smoldering on the inside

smoldering on the inside — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:42:44 -0800

This has been a major blow. To be on the inside- working for a company that felt like a real family. Ronny introduced me as a coworker, never as someone who worked for him. I never had a �Case of the Mondays� since I began working here- that is until today. These working environments are rare and whether you love the service or you couldn't quite get into it, our values were noble. The genuine heart and soul that created the community in which I loved working is no longer present. The matriarch of the company just stepped down as HR Manager. What�s the point? When is enough ENOUGH for these companies that are determined to expand for the �ideal� profit margin? Pioneer is the largest organic home delivery service in the country in this beautiful city. Despite this fact, we�re small and Ronny liked it that way. We were locally owned and held true to the values so many of our customers have, and more importantly, those values I have as an employee who truly wishes to be excited about what I do on a daily basis. What now? Is anyone hiring passionate, conscientious individuals with a drive to make a difference, no matter how small?

Comment by hhhippo

hhhippo — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:55:07 -0800

Reminds me of that game Hungry Hungry Hippos. Chompa Chompa! Buy local...companies.

Comment by It's A sad sad day.....

It's A sad sad day..... — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:27:25 -0800

What has the world come to! Us Americans have become so greedy and self righteous, that is now an acceptable practice to stab family members in the back and take credit for all their hard work. I can't believe people are surprised that 911 happened, or that children can no longer play in their front yards, or that catholic priests molest little children. Americans can't even come together in their own families and show some pride, let alone pay attention to the worlds goings on. There is no such thing as a hand shake, or "giving your word", hard work no longer gets you any where. When you work hard and are successful someone always wants to take it away. Michael Knight has never worked as hard as Ronny Bell or had a great vision for his future. Since he couldn't do any of those things on his own he had to steal it out from under a family member. Shame on Michael Knight! I can't express my anger towards this situation. Doesn't the world see what's right and whats wrong? Ronny Bell is a great man and I was happy to be employed by him. I can't tell you how many tears have been shed over this great injustice. I hope consumers will do the right thing and shop someplace else.

Comment by father of a recently departed Pioneer employee

father of a recently departed Pioneer employee — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:36:15 -0800

My daughter has kept me posted as to the turmoil that brewed within Pioneer Organics for sometime. It was clear that indeed Ronny's cousin, Michael Knight, has orchastrated a hostile takeover and has none of the vision or commitment to local food sustainability. She is devastated that such consequences have befallen Ronny as he is truly a decent person and now has lost what he worked so hard to create.
Shame on endless greed.

Note to Kinaidos: Hasn't services like Pioneer introduced many to organics? And isn't that a good thing?

Comment by Just another employee

Just another employee — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:24:39 -0800

From my perspective as a driver for pioneer organics - there was a great satisfaction working for Ronny Bell, he cared about what we did and took the time to say thank you - every time I saw him. Michael Knight was a completely absent owner in this company.

Ronny cared very deeply about our customers and sure, spud will care about them as well, but not like someone who created a business does.

This sell out was announced to us on Friday and the news was harsh and incomplete. I will show up to do my work this week, but I feel shallower for it.

Comment by Messy Bitter Takeover

Messy Bitter Takeover — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:30:09 -0800

As another uncomfortable employee at Pioneer (for how long??), I'd just like to add that the line they're giving the customers and media about no lay offs is total BS. 80% of he office crew are either gone now or about to be and they're phasing out all the rest who aren't falling in line with the new coorporate vision. Nice. Yay for multinational conglomerates.

Comment by a concerned citizen

a concerned citizen — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:02:48 -0800

they're fucking over their employees even as I type this. No layoffs my ass.

Comment by i can't drive 55

i can't drive 55 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:23:17 -0800

i dont have anything much to say that hasnt already been said, except for the fact that i have worked at pioneer for almost three (3) years now, and just yesterday Michael Knight asked me what my name was.

Comment by just me

just me — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:24:07 -0800

It is really too bad that it all happened this way. Ronny was very good to every single employee. It seemed like there was always a work party or some gathering to encourage people to get together and feel like they were really part of something. He made it clear that he couldn't make his dream possible without the help of others. He was a great boss and it is sad to hear that his dream is no more.

Comment by A link

A link — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:27:42 -0800

http://www.seattleweekly.com/food/blogs/voracious/2008/03/pioneers_pioneer_not_happy_abo.php

Comment by Just another employee

Just another employee — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:55:41 -0800

As to how Pioneer Organics treats employees - the pay could be better - but we did get paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, medical (including massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture allowances) free dental, free vision care, free produce and discounts on all groceries, and on top of that a free peak fare metro pass.

I heard this week that spud in Seattle doesn't even have health care benefits. Yikes.

Comment by another employee

another employee — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:37:47 -0800

Ronny has finally reaped what he sowed. He was no leader. He was good to work with as long as you did not disagree with him. Otherwise, he was known to yell, scream and fire people on a whim. He was lucky to have had a partner that could see the business for what it was and could be. He acted on that opportunity to keep jobs intact amongst many other complicated reasons.

Comment by soon to be exemployee

soon to be exemployee — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:14:05 -0800

this is total bullshit.

ronny was amazing to work for. some days i hated my job because it was a job, but everytime i went to ronny for guidance, he was always happy to give me encouraging words and do what he could to be sure i was happy in my job.

it was a priviledge to work for someone like him. michael knight, on the other hand, sold someones passion for his own personal gain. no one else benefited from this change, especially not all the employees that got laid off.

all this just makes me want to yell FUCK.

Comment by smoldering on the inside

smoldering on the inside — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:04:17 -0800

I asked a farmer once what the word community meant to him, he replied, "A group of people with something in common."

I want to thank all of you for the positive community we had prior to Ronny, Katie, and Alexis' departure and the shifting of the company morality-ometer. I don't know for how much longer I'll be hanging on at work, but I'll be departing very soon. I appreciate this opportunity, in this venue, to not only share but also read your similar sentiments. To know that this feeling I had while working for the previous and true existence of Pioneer Organics was genuine to its core is reassuring. It's so important to preserve these unique working environments. What exists now is vacuous. I'm no longer included and the male dominance of the so-called leadership is taking shape. Take this learning experience with you. We have the power as a collective force to create whatever we want within our working environments. What DO YOU want? Don't ever allow someone else to decide this for you.

Thank you SLOG for the catharsis.