Sourcing Philosophy & Principles
Making the right decisions can be tough. Every choice seems to involve ethical or health tradeoffs. We crave fast dinners, but that often means unhealthy, processed food. And while skipping grocery shopping or farm stands saves time, it can mean supporting damaging industrial agricultural practices that harm our environment, animals, and people.
At WECO, we make meals that are epically delicious and guilt-free. They're nutrient dense, quick to heat and eat, and ethically and sustainably produced.
Here's the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW of our sourcing philosophy and practices.
Who
As a purpose-driven brand, we aim to source most of our food from farmers and purveyors who share our values and ethos.
Personal Relationships: We build personal relationships with our suppliers, preferring connections built on trust and shared values rather than solely transactional ones.
Independent Businesses: We prioritize independently owned businesses over public companies, recognizing their commitment to community and sustainability over shareholder interests
Here are a just a few great examples of partnerships we’ve fostered:
Local Farms: We partner with Applefield Farms in Stow, MA, a family-run farm that has upheld organic practices for over forty years. Applefield never uses synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and we feel privileged to be the caretakers of 25 acres of protected, agriculturally zoned farmland.
Fresh Lettuce: Most of our lettuce is sourced from Little Leaf Farms, a local business that has developed a modern system for growing the freshest non-GMO project-verified, pesticide-free lettuce year-round.
Sustainable Seafood: Our seafood is sourced from two trusted providers known for their commitment to quality and sustainability:
Seawitch, owned by chef Chris Basile and his son, operates locally from the Boston Fish Pier. Chris personally oversees the inspection of each catch to ensure top quality.
Foley Fish, a third-generation family-owned business, adheres to rigorous sustainability standards. They harvest every species by strict fishery management measures, certified by authorities such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), and Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).
Pita Bread: Angel Bakeries, a family-owned business in New Jersey since 1927, supplies our oil-free, chemical-free pita bread.
Corn Tortillas: Cinco De Mayo Tortillas, founded by Mexican immigrants Jose Luis and Paula Chino in Chelsea, MA, supplies our corn tortillas.
Artisan Pasta: Deano’s in Somerville, MA, a fourth-generation pasta maker since 1947, crafts our artisan noodles.
Guest Chef Program: We are also proud to work with many up-and-coming local chefs through our Guest Chef Program, to bring a diversity of culinary voices to the table. We partner with BIPOC, female, and LGBTQ+ chefs to highlight and celebrate underrepresented talent.
When & Where
Our menus use local, seasonal harvests from Northeast and Mid-Atlantic farms, reducing environmental impact and ensuring fresher meals. This approach supports local economies, sustainability, and culinary excellence in every dish.
We prioritize sourcing locally within our community, guided by these principles:
Supporting local farmers and communities
Serving freshly made and handcrafted food
Considering seasonality and availability
Choosing domestic products over imported ones (while still importing some delicious specialties)
Our approach ensures that every dish we deliver reflects our commitment to supporting local economies, sustainability, and culinary excellence.
What
We prioritize sourcing meat and dairy products from humane and sustainable farmers. Not only is it the right thing to do, but pasture-raised meat and heritage breeds taste better because of natural diets and environments. All our meats are non-GMO and free from antibiotics.
We focus on sourcing cage-free poultry and traceable eggs, ensuring they are antibiotic-free and free from added growth hormones.
We aim to source pasture-raised and traceable beef, lamb, and pork raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones and by ranchers who adhere to humane practices.
Our seafood partners adhere to the highest sustainability standards, harvesting species following strict fishery management measures.
How
The combination of delicious flavors and healthy choices is at the heart of our kitchen philosophy.
We believe in full transparency. Every dish on our order form lists all ingredients, so you can always see what goes into the food you enjoy.
We mainly use avocado oil for its high smoke point and heart-healthy fats, enhancing our meals' nutrition. We also use olive or canola oil for specific dishes.
For most dishes requiring flour, we use Original Sunshine-certified gluten-free flour, a unique wheat-based, gluten-free option. Made from regeneratively farmed, non-GMO, unbleached gluten-free wheat starch, it undergoes a washing process to remove gluten to well under 20 parts per million.
Learn more about our standards on health and nutrition here.
Sourcing Philosophy & Principles
Making the right decisions can be tough. Every choice seems to involve ethical or health tradeoffs. We crave fast dinners, but that often means unhealthy, processed food. And while skipping grocery shopping or farm stands saves time, it can mean supporting damaging industrial agricultural practices that harm our environment, animals, and people.
At WECO, we make meals that are epically delicious and guilt-free. They're nutrient dense, quick to heat and eat, and ethically and sustainably produced.
Here's the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW of our sourcing philosophy and practices.
Who
As a purpose-driven brand, we aim to source most of our food from farmers and purveyors who share our values and ethos.
Personal Relationships: We build personal relationships with our suppliers, preferring connections built on trust and shared values rather than solely transactional ones.
Independent Businesses: We prioritize independently owned businesses over public companies, recognizing their commitment to community and sustainability over shareholder interests
Here are a just a few great examples of partnerships we’ve fostered:
Local Farms: We partner with Applefield Farms in Stow, MA, a family-run farm that has upheld organic practices for over forty years. Applefield never uses synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and we feel privileged to be the caretakers of 25 acres of protected, agriculturally zoned farmland.
Fresh Lettuce: Most of our lettuce is sourced from Little Leaf Farms, a local business that has developed a modern system for growing the freshest non-GMO project-verified, pesticide-free lettuce year-round.
Sustainable Seafood: Our seafood is sourced from two trusted providers known for their commitment to quality and sustainability:
Seawitch, owned by chef Chris Basile and his son, operates locally from the Boston Fish Pier. Chris personally oversees the inspection of each catch to ensure top quality.
Foley Fish, a third-generation family-owned business, adheres to rigorous sustainability standards. They harvest every species by strict fishery management measures, certified by authorities such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), and Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).
Pita Bread: Angel Bakeries, a family-owned business in New Jersey since 1927, supplies our oil-free, chemical-free pita bread.
Corn Tortillas: Cinco De Mayo Tortillas, founded by Mexican immigrants Jose Luis and Paula Chino in Chelsea, MA, supplies our corn tortillas.
Artisan Pasta: Deano’s in Somerville, MA, a fourth-generation pasta maker since 1947, crafts our artisan noodles.
Guest Chef Program: We are also proud to work with many up-and-coming local chefs through our Guest Chef Program, to bring a diversity of culinary voices to the table. We partner with BIPOC, female, and LGBTQ+ chefs to highlight and celebrate underrepresented talent.
When & Where
Our menus use local, seasonal harvests from Northeast farms, reducing environmental impact and ensuring fresher meals. This approach supports local economies, sustainability, and culinary excellence in every dish.
We prioritize sourcing locally within our community, guided by these principles:
Supporting local farmers and communities
Serving freshly made and handcrafted food
Considering seasonality and availability
Choosing domestic products over imported ones (while still importing some delicious specialties)
Our approach ensures that every dish we deliver reflects our commitment to supporting local economies, sustainability, and culinary excellence.
What
We prioritize sourcing meat and dairy products from humane and sustainable farmers. Not only is it the right thing to do, but pasture-raised meat and heritage breeds taste better because of natural diets and environments. All our meats are non-GMO and free from antibiotics.
We focus on sourcing cage-free poultry and traceable eggs, ensuring they are antibiotic-free and free from added growth hormones.
We aim to source pasture-raised and traceable beef, lamb, and pork raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones and by ranchers who adhere to humane practices.
Our seafood partners adhere to the highest sustainability standards, harvesting species following strict fishery management measures.
How
The combination of delicious flavors and healthy choices is at the heart of our kitchen philosophy.
We believe in full transparency. Every dish on our order form lists all ingredients, so you can always see what goes into the food you enjoy.
We mainly use avocado oil for its high smoke point and heart-healthy fats, enhancing our meals' nutrition. We also use olive or canola oil for specific dishes.
For most dishes requiring flour, we use Original Sunshine-certified gluten-free flour, a unique wheat-based, gluten-free option. Made from regeneratively farmed, non-GMO, unbleached gluten-free wheat starch, it undergoes a washing process to remove gluten to well under 20 parts per million.
Learn more about our standards on health and nutrition here.