A co-op, or co-operative, is a business model that’s been around for centuries. The International Co-operative Alliance, itself a co-op founded to represent and serve cooperatives worldwide, defines cooperation as “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” In an overview of the history of U.S. co-ops, published by the Center of Cooperatives at the University of Wisconsin, it’s stated that the development of co-operatives in America stems from the experiences of small farmers who moved from their agricultural lands into cities under pressure from The Enclosure Movement, and changes in land tenure during the Industrial Revolution era in England during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s. Some of those small farmers would eventually end up collaborating to create what was called ‘mutual aid and friendly society organizations.’

Given their history, the ideas behind the co-ops we know here in the States are deeply rooted in agriculture. In a time when the current cost of living is noticeably higher, and the word ‘inflation’ has been creeping into conversations at a rate almost as steep as its relationship to currency, the value of where we put our dollar rises. An increase in awareness can look like being more selective or frugal with our purchases, and it can also be a deeper consideration of where items for purchase come from. From start to finish, every item of food that makes its way to the grocery store has used land, been grown or raised, collected or slaughtered, produced or preserved, packaged, transported, sold, and then resold. The stories behind the food that’s bought and sold have ties to real people and real places all over the world. A devastating but important example is Mexican cartels’ vile treatment of Mexican farmers in greedy efforts to rob them of their rightful remittance—specifically when it comes to avocados, limes, and peaches, according to reports by Forbes, The Guardian, Vice, NPR, and others. Agriculture and agriculturalists make this world go round, and when farmers and ranchers around the planet are suffering injustices and solutions feel unreachable, we can start by supporting the farmers and ranchers who are also our neighbors. Montana has a rich agricultural history, and there are food co-ops scattered throughout these open plains and mountainous valleys.

Many of us who live in town know the Bozeman Community Food Co-op, which has been around since 1979 and now has two locations, the main uptown spot and one downtown. Both locations offer locally produced goods (though not exclusively). According to www.bozo.coop, “It all started with a few dedicated people looking for democratic control of their food supply.” Under the ‘departments’ tab, you can easily access information about local providers, from cattle ranchers to dairy farmers to botanical growers. The Bozeman Co-op uses a labeling system that categorizes both ‘local goods,’ produced within a 100-mile radius, and ‘regional goods’ that come from within a 300-mile radius. Additionally, for seafood, the Bozeman Co-op is committed to not purchasing any seafood on the Seafood Watch’s “Avoid” list, and has a labeling system split between ‘best catch’ and ‘good choice’ options. The former is seafood coming from healthy and abundant wild populations or is farmed in environmentally conscious ways; the latter comes with some concerns about fishing practices or farming practices. The Bozeman Co-op’s website provides our community with a handful of accessible tools we can use to learn the stories behind the food the cooperative sells.

Another community-supported local food initiative located close to home is the Towne’s Harvest Garden, run by MSU. The five-acre vegetable and educational research farm is not a co-op, but an educational program that aims to promote learning about food production, the value of eating and supporting local foods, community-building, and individual empowerment. The student-operated farm offers a CSA, or a Community Supported Agriculture program where, during the summer growing season, members of our community can pay for a few-months-long subscription of greens, summer vegetables, and herbs. The Towne’s Harvest Garden CSA program began in early June; their farm stand can be found at the Bozeman Farmers Market in Lindley Park through September. Also, this September through October, they plan on having a campus farm stand, the location for which is pending. Specific farming practices regarding plastics, heat, and USDA organic standards are considered by the student farmers as they plant, grow, gather, and deliver the vegetables they intend to sell. Towne’s Harvest Garden aims “to provide a solid value in comparison to purchasing comparable organic vegetables from area stores.”

Not as close to home but still available for those of us in Bozeman are the meat products from Old Salt Co-op. With headquarters in Helena, the Old Salt Co-op was co-founded by Cole Mannix and Andrew Mace. The extended Mannix family has been ranching together in Montana’s Blackfoot Valley since 1882. Together with its founders, it’s a collaboration of like-minded individuals and ranchers across the state, including Sieben Livestock Co., Mannix Family Ranch, J Bar L Ranches, and LF Ranch. Old Salt meat Co-op offers various cuts of fresh and smoked beef, pork, and lamb, as well as pâté and bone broth, all available to order for delivery via the website. If you happen to be in Helena, they do have pick-up available as well. The slogan found at the bottom of www.oldsaltco-op.com reads, “Land Is Kin, Let’s Leave It Better,” and the co-op is on a mission to practice agricultural productivity and land stewardship in partnership with maintaining livestock. Old Salt ranchers “monitor changes in key ecological indicators, working to discern the degree to which management is responsible, and to continuously improve stewardship,” and the idea is to work with nature rather than fighting it with chemicals. Additionally, the Old Salt Co-op upholds standards of treatment for livestock which value the quality of life and the health of both animals and consumers.

Next, many of us who’ve been in-state for a while know about Flathead cherries. Like the craze that happens around morel mushroom or huckleberry season, Flathead cherries can bring about a real sense of enthusiasm for cherry lovers. Flathead Lake Cherry Growers has been a Montana agricultural cooperative since 1935. They are a collective of individuals and cherry farmers who have orchards located all around the Flathead Lake region; some members offer shipping. Starting in mid-July and wrapping up in early August, the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers set up roadside stands, mostly around the east side of Flathead Lake along Montana Highway 35, as well as at several locations on the west side, along U.S. Highway 93.

Last, but not least, a notable resource I came across in my search for local food co-ops was a ‘local food and farms finder’ webpage created by Abundant Montana, a market and media hub. The media company lists hundreds of farmers, ranchers, farmers’ markets, institutional and retail local food buyers, food pantries and community meals, and local food and agriculture organizations. Some of the company’s guiding principles are: “To build the demand for local food, help local food and farm businesses succeed, and support diverse markets for local food.” The ‘local food and farms finder’ feature on their website allows you to view a huge collection of community gardens, restaurants, and specialty products that are in line with Abundant Montana’s values.

As always,  Farmers’ Markets are a great way to support friendly neighborhood farmers and other local vendors.  

To engage with any of the aforementioned organizations or to learn more, visit the websites below

Bozeman Community Food Co-op
https://www.bozo.coop/

MSU Towne’s Harvest Garden
https://townesharvest.montana.edu/

Old Salt Co-op
https://www.oldsaltco-op.com/

Flathead Lake Cherry Growers
https://montanacherries.com/

Abundant Montana
https://abundantmontana.com