Co-op brings urban buyers resilient flow of regional pastured, organic foods

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, a Pennsylvania nonprofit, was created in 2006 to take some of the marketing and shipping burden off Amish and Mennonite farmers, most of whom could not own trucks to deliver their product and preferred to stay away from the public eye. It has since grown to over 35 farmer members, along with booming markets. Demand has blossomed in areas other than the original markets of Lancaster and Philadelphia, allowing producers to keep growing sustainably for the niche markets.

The co-op setup has the additional benefit of promoting farmer cooperation, rather than competition, and helps the farmers escape from their usual role as lowest-price-takers. Full story: Farming Magazine