Montana's Local Food System Network
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Western Montana Growers Cooperative
Contact: GENERAL MANAGER – MARK WEHRI, (406) 726-4769, grower@wmgcoop.com
http://www.wmgcoop.com -
Missoula County Community Food and Agriculture Coalition
127 N. Higgins Avenue, Suite 301, Missoula, MT 59802 P.O. Box 7025, Missoula, MT 59806
http://www.missoulacfac.org -
Good Food Store
1600 S 3rd Street West Missoula, MT 59801
Contact: (406) 541-3663
www.goodfoodstore.com -
Missoula Community Food Co-op
1500 Burns Street Missoula, MT 59802
Contact: (406) 728-2369
Missoula Community Market -
Montana Food Bank Network
Montana Food Bank Network 5625 Expressway Missoula, MT 59808
Contact: (406) 721-3825 or 800-809-4752
www.mfbn.org/ -
Garden City Harvest
103 Hickory Street P O Box 205 Missoula MT 59806
Contact: (406) 523-3663
gardencityharvest.org -
University of Montana, Farm to College
Lommasson Center, Room EL 145 Missoula, MT 59812
Contact: (406) 243-6325
life.umt.edu/uds -
Missoula County Public Schools, Farm to School
127 N. Higgins Avenue, Suite 305 Missoula, MT 59802
Contact: Lauren Amato, (406) 274-0437
farm2school@missoulacfac.org -
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University of Montana Environmental Studies program
Rankin Hall 106A Missoula, MT 59812
Contact: Neva Hassanein, (406) 243-6271
www.cas.umt.edu -
Grow Montana
P.O. BOX 3838 BUTTE MT 59702
Contact: Crissie McMullan, (406) 531-5162
www.growmontana.ncat.org -
Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO)
432 N. Last Chance Gulch Helena, MT 59601
Contact: 406) 494-4572
www.aeromt.org -
National Center for Appropriate Technology
3040 Continental Dr Butte, MT 59701
Contact: 406) 494-4572
www.ncat.org -
Sustainable Obtainable Solutions
P.O. Box 1424 Helena, MT 59624
Contact: 406-495-0738
www.s-o-solutions.org -
Real Food Market & Deli
1096 Helena Avenue Helena, MT 59601
Contact: (406)443-5150
www.realfoodstore.com -
Montana State University, Farm to College
P.O. Box 172080 Bozeman, MT 597171
Contact: (406) 994-2661
www.montana.edu/ufs -
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Sustainable Food & Bioenergy Systems Program
Hosaeus HPE Complex 175 Montana State University Bozeman , MT 59717
Contact: Mary Stein, Program Coordinator, (406) 994-5640
/sfbs.montana.edu -
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The Rural Landscape Institute
7 East Beall Street Bozeman, MT 59715
Contact: (406) 522-7654
www.rurallandscapeinstitute.org -
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Farms for Families
Farms for Families 315 South 8th St Livingston, MT 59047
Contact: (406) 222-7585
www.farmsforfamilies.org -
Western Sustainability Exchange
PO Box 1448 Livingston, MT 59047
Contact: (406) 222-0730
www.westernsustainabilityexchange.org -
Good Earth Market
3024 2nd Avenue North Billings, MT 59101
Contact: (406) 259-2622
www.northernplains.org -
Northern Plains Resource Council
Northern Plains Resource Council 220 South 27th Street, Suite A Billings, Montana 59101
Contact: (406) 248-1154
www.northernplains.org -
University of Montana – Western, Farm to College
710 S. Atlantic Street Dillon MT 59725
Contact: (406) 683-7144
www.umwestern.edu -
Community GATE, Farm-To-Table
131 W Valentine Glendive MT 59330
Contact: (406) 377-4284
www.farmtotablecoop.com -
Bear Paw Development Corp.
48 Second Avenue, Ste. 202 Havre, MT 59501
Contact: Pam Lemer, (406) 265-9226
www.bearpaw.org -
Beartooth RC&D
604 West Front Street Joliet, MT 59041
Contact: Joel Bertolino, (406) 962-3914
www.beartooth.org/ -
Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center
407 MIN ST. SW, Ronan, Montana
Contact: (406) 676-0676
www.mmfec.com -
Sustainable Living Systems
PO Box 53 Victor, Mt. 59875
Contact: Jill, (406) 642-3601
www.sustainablelivingsystems.org
Montana's Food System History
Pre-1950s
During the first half of the 20th century Montana farmers and ranchers produced approximately 70% of the food consumed by Montana citizens. During the 1930s to the early 1950s Montana was a net exporter of value added processed foods such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, butter, meat and other commodities. During this period, Montana's food production, processing, and distribution were localized to communities and were significant contributors to the economic and social well-being of Montana citizens. Montana possessed a food producing and processing infrastructure that fed its citizens primarily and supplied processed foods secondarily to neighboring states. Food processing alone employed nearly 3,000 people in the 1950s and provided the financial means for Montana citizens to acquire food derived from Montana sources. In addition, Montana's locally based food supply chain ensured farmers and ranchers a fair share of the value chain for their products.
Post 1950s
In the latter half of the 20th century, Montana's food system experienced dramatic shifts from a production and processing oriented food system to a commodity based food system. Federal and state policies, technological advances in each segment of the value chain and consumer preference all had varying degrees of influence on the changes to Montana's food system. The results, though, have been dramatic and costly. Farmers and ranchers have experienced increases in production costs while earning less share of the value of their products. In 1910 farmers and ranchers earned on average $.60 for every dollar for their products and by 2007 their share value plummeted to an average of $.07 for every dollar. According to the 1985 U.S. Census, employment in Montana's food processing sector was non-existent. The loss of stable well-paying jobs at each link of the value chain has resulted in over 30% of Montana citizens facing food insecurity, where they do not have adequate access to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.
Our Centers' Roles in Local Food System Development
The year 1998 marked a significant first step in Montana's local food systems development with the Alternative Energy Resource Organization's (AERO) Montana Food Systems Initiative. The Montana Food Systems Initiative organized community groups around the state to intimately look at and share stories of their local food system. From these community based beginnings our Centers have formed and emerged as strategic partners in Montana Food System development.
In 1999 the Mission Mountain Cooperative Development Center was established through the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program for the purpose of promoting cooperatives in western Montana as a viable alternative for rural development issues with an emphasis on "value added" enterprises.
In 2002, the Mission Mountain Food Processing Center was built to provide clients with detailed support covering all aspects of food processing from ideation to final product.
In 2004, the Food and Agricultural Innovation Center was one of five regionally based centers funded through the Montana Department of Agriculture. In 2009, the Montana Department of Agriculture once again selected the Mission Mountain Food and Agriculture Center as a strategic center with the purpose of providing technical assistance to developing Montana agricultural producer value added enterprises in western Montana, collaborating with the statewide effort to increase Montana's capacity to produce food, and enhancing local food system development within our local communities.
Source: Grow Montana, Montana Farmers Union and Community Gate Farm to Table video project. Montana Food System Notes
