Bay Area
How Local Grocer Became a Natural Wonder
When Bob Gerner attended his first Organic Merchants meeting in 1970 on Mount Shasta, it led to creating the popular El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company, which he founded and has been dedicated to for more than 50 years. “This was the start of the natural foods movement and we are still guided by the principles adopted by this organization,” said Laurie Wilt, a Kensington resident and spokesperson for the employee-owned company.

The Richmond Standard
When Bob Gerner attended his first Organic Merchants meeting in 1970 on Mount Shasta, it led to creating the popular El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company, which he founded and has been dedicated to for more than 50 years.
“This was the start of the natural foods movement and we are still guided by the principles adopted by this organization,” said Laurie Wilt, a Kensington resident and spokesperson for the employee-owned company. “Their goal was to promote organic agriculture and to sell wholesome unrefined natural foods. The Organic Merchants defined these as foods without white flour, white sugar, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial colors, or preservatives.”
From 1971 to 1980, Gerner changed locations and expanded offerings, including a bakery and café that had 50 unique vegetarian dishes and the first tofu burger in the U.S.
After an attempt to sell the store, Gerner and his wife Pattie regrouped and reopened the store in 1981 calling it Berkeley Natural Grocery Co., the beginning of The Natural Grocery Company at 10367 San Pablo Ave. as it is known today, according to Wilt.
In 2002, the Natural Grocery Company became employee owned (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), and the following year the Employees of the Berkeley Store launched the Non-GMO Project with the People Want to Know Campaign, according to Wilt.
The El Cerrito Grocery Store won the East Bay Express Reader Poll for Best Natural Food Store in 2021 and in 2022, due in part to its establishing personal relationships with vendors and farmers.
The worker-owned business doesn’t just sell food to make money. “We believe in caring for our resources and providing healthy, nutritious ingredients to our community,” Wilt said.
“I think that commitment to our ideals is what sets us apart,” she said. “It isn’t always about the bottom line. We are a community of individuals working towards the health of ourselves, our families and the population at large.”
That dedication is proven in the store’s product offerings. The store only sells organic produce. Its bulk foods department is almost all organic.
The store’s Café features Equal Exchange Organic/Fair Trade Coffee and Juice Bar that uses the same organic produce sold in its the stores, its Ice Cream Counter features Straus Ice Cream and Mr. Dewie’s Cashew Ice Cream, and its Bakery Department makes tasty organic treats, special order cakes and pastries, as well as morning baked goods like muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls and biscuits. Vegan and wheat free items are offered, although the store is not a gluten free facility, according to Wilt.
The store also has a Deli that prepares grab and go sandwiches, salads and dishes to eat in or take-out, a Wine & Beer Department focusing on natural, organic and craft beverages, and a Floral Department that was co-winner for Best Flower Shop in the 2022 El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce Best of El Cerrito competition.
Both the Berkeley and El Cerrito grocery stores are certified California Green Businesses.
“You may notice the solar panels that are on the roofs of both our San Pablo Avenue locations as well as over a portion of the parking lot,” Wilt said. “Additionally, we have an electric car charging station in our lot that provides an hour of free charging during business hours for customers.”
What customers don’t see are the beehives on the roof. The hives are maintained by Bay Area Bee Company, according to Wilt.
“When they produce enough honey, we get jars to sell in our stores that tell you it’s from our bees!” Wilt said.
Wilt also noted the store sells fresh ground-your-own peanut and almond butters. But you won’t find individual water bottles of less than one gallon, a decision the store made in 2019. The store only carries water in aluminum, paper or glass.
“We provide a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System for our customers who want to fill up their own containers and that is what we use to wash our produce,” Wilt said. “Recent audits of our composting show that we are doing a great job separating our waste and making sure it goes to the right place (compost, recycling, landfill).”
The Natural Grocery Store and Natural Grocery Preparation Food Annex open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025

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Activism
Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Sleeping in Cars
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.

By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
As California’s housing crisis continues to impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.
“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.
The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.
Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.
However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight. But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action.
“If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.
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