Group inaugurates state food cooperative

 A new group of Montana farmers and food producers has launched plans to start a Montana Food Cooperative.

The focus will be on bringing together consumers and producers to create easy access to local, nutritious and affordable food while promoting a sustainable agricultural community.

A steering committee was formed last spring during a meeting facilitated by Karl Sutton, program manager at the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise and Co-op Development Center in Ronan. The committee researched other co-ops in Idaho, Oklahoma and Madison, Wis.

Membership has been set at $20 for consumers. The projected service area is Western Montana, from Eureka to Hamilton. By working with other producers, co-ops, businesses and farm-to-table organizations, the plan is to extend service to the majority of the state in the near future.

Public presentations are being planned over the next two months in Kalispell and/or Whitefish, Missoula, Arlee or St. Ignatius, Bigfork, Hot Springs, Thompson Falls and Plains.

Representatives also will have a table at the Salish Point Blues Festival in Polson on July 3 and 4.

People interested in joining the co-op either as producers or consumers may contact Jason Moore at 469-628-1396  or Lake County Community Development Corporation, 407 Main St. S.W., Ronan, MT 59864; or call 406-676-5901.

For more information, visit www.montanacoop.com