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Sat, 13 May 2006

Local Organic Farming Co-operative Thrives in Montana

This story came to SV via Nick Rose at Utne Magazine, who got it from OCA, who found it at New West Network, edited by Dana Green. And all without a single fossil fuel mile. This is about an organic farming co-operative in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana. I've excerpted the first few paragraphs of the article.

Western Montana Growers Go Beyond Organics and Get Local, by Tad Sooter, 4-19-06, reprinted with permission from New West Network

When Lifeline Farms began growing and selling its natural produce from the Bitterroot Valley 25 years ago, "organic" had a slightly different connotation.

"We took our crate of food to Safeway, we had all our letters saying it was organic, and we said, "This is organic, do you want it? The managers looked at it and said, 'Oh, it’s organic? Well, we’ll take it anyway,'" says Luci Brieger, who with her husband Steve Elliott runs the produce portion of Lifeline Farms, one of the oldest organic farms in Montana.

Since those early days, Brieger and Elliott have seen organics go from obscurity to a mainstream marketing boon. And now, many organic farmers, including Brieger and Elliott, feel that organic programs have lost touch with their roots in small farms and close communities by embracing corporations that ship their produce all over the world.

In that spirit, 12 Missoula-area organic farms have formed a group that will offer an alternative to the USDA organic certification -- a "Homegrown" label focusing more on growing and selling food locally. All of the member farms will be within 150 miles of their markets. To join the Western Montana Sustainable Growers Union members will pledge to grow naturally, protect air and water, maintain fair labor practices and, most importantly, to sell and buy in their communities. New members will get a visit from an established farmer to help get them started. In short, the group will be based on community and close relationships.

Read the rest of Western Montana Growers Go Beyond Organics and Get Local by Tad Sooter. Reprinted with permission from New West Network