Online co-op aims to improve Montanans' access to local food
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RONAN — In 1950, 70 percent of all food Montanans ate was grown in state. Today, that number is closer to 5 percent, according to some studies.
But a committee of local producers and consumers are trying to close the gap by forming an online food co-op called the Montana Food Co-op, that will give Montanans access to locally grown and produced food.
“The website will include all local producers and locally made products,” said Jason Moore, co-owner of Get Well Montana in Polson.
Moore, along with others including Karl Sutton, Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Program Coordinator, is working to set up a website to allow featured producers on the site to upload and change so producers have a direct hand in what is featured and how consumers can buy and access their products.
The online food coop mimics a similar idea established in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Oklahoma Food Coop in Oklahoma City has been in operation for 10 years and delivers to more than 35 community locations throughout the state with more than 5,000 consumer members, over 100 producers and over 4,500 food and non-food items to choose from, all of which is made in Oklahoma.
Members of the Montana committee traveled to Oklahoma and learned how that co-op utilized systems for online ordering, distribution and sorting.
The Montana Food Co-op will also use the same software that Oklahoma uses for its website.
The committee has made arrangements to receive this software for no charge in the early part of 2012.
In March, the committee will also start reaching out to individuals and organizations to confirm drop locations, which will be buildings where people can pick up their orders.
“The feasibility of duplicating the success of the OK Food Co-op seems realistic,” the committee stated in an executive summary after the visit. “When the people of Western Montana join the co-op, we increase our buying power and work together on solving our health, economic and environmental issues that will open the door to a bright future for our families and our communities.”
