Producer Profiles

Grown in Washington, these chickens are raised under optimum conditions in an open air environment, and are able to roam freely from the barn to the yard. They are fed a vegetarian diet of grains, primarily corn and soybeans, supplemented by their natural diet. They are never given antibiotics, added hormones or animal byproducts.

Matt and Jacy Rothschiller grow a wide variety of produce for the Co-op, including onions and Jerusalem artichokes. They have been growing produce for five years on leased land just west of Belgrade. They recently purchased their own plot of land east of Bozeman.

While Gallatin Valley Botanical is not certified organic, they don’t use chemicals anywhere in their operation. Instead, they use crop rotation, insect-attracting plants, compost and cover crops to manage soil fertility and balance insect pests.

“Every year we strive to increase our knowledge of soil fertility through observation and study,” says Matt. Look for Gallatin Valley Botanicals’ produce at the Co-op, Bozeman farmers’ market and at many area restaurants.

Home Acres Orchard is located about 40 miles south of Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley. They started their orchard in 1989, grafting the trees themselves. They have 2500 plus trees planted on five acres, with another 40 acres in pasture. They were certified organic in 1994, and maintained that status until 2006, when they dropped certification in favor of membership in the Western Montana Sustainable Growers Union.

They have 18 varieties of apples, six varieties of pears and three varieties of Asian pears. They also have several varieties of apricots, two varieties of pie cherries and four varieties of plums. The well maintained understory between and beneath the trees encourages a strong population of beneficial insects, which in turn helps to maintain a natural ecological balance. The wildlife plantings offer safe haven and food for many birds, which also help to control insect levels. In addition, it supports a diverse population of wild pollinators, which eliminates the need to bring in honeybees every year. Home Acres supplies the Co-op with apples and pears.

Averil Heath, owner of Springhill Farms, grows herbs and spinach on a half acre of land in Belgrade, MT. Averil has been farming this land since 1982. She began supplying the Co-op with her produce in 1990, the same year she became certified organic. She ended her certification in 2006, due to a decision to reduce her production, but continues to employ the same growing practices. Her philosophy is that if you use herbicides and pesticides on your garden, then you negate the reason for healthy eating in the first place. Averil uses crop rotation and nitrogen fixers to help maintain healthy soil. She uses biological pesticides to control pests and she plants natural grasses to out compete invasive weeds. These methods have been working on farm since the beginning, and continue to produce nutritious, tasty vegetables and herbs to this day.

Applegate Farms believes that the best recipe for a happy, healthy life is to enjoy foods that not only taste great, but are good for you too. That’s why they’ve taken some American classics — like deli meat, bacon, hot dogs, and more — and left out all the harmful junk.

All Applegate Farms Products are:
• Free of nitrates and chemical preservatives
• Free of antibiotics and growth hormones
• Gluten free and contain no casein
• Not fed animal by-products — their livestock receive only vegetarian food
• Made using the highest quality cuts of meat.
• Free of MSG, fillers and excess water.

The folks at Applegate believe that sustainable agriculture is the key to a healthier future for everyone. They are constantly looking for ways to improve their environmental practices — on the farm and in their plants. When you purchase products form Applegate Farms, you are buying more than healthy foods for you and your family: you are helping to support over 250 family farms dedicated to the humane treatment of livestock and the preservation of our fragile rural environment.

Applegate Farms – www.applegatefarms.com

Yellowstone Bees began as a gift idea in Sweet Grass County, Montana in 1997. Their first products were inspired by a love and respect for nature’s cures and a desire to support healthier lifestyles among friends and family by making natural body care products for their every day use.

With nearby Yellowstone National Park as an inspiration, founder Kim Lewis created formulas she knew would be natural, safe, and effective for those closest to her. Along the way she discovered that beeswax was an excellent ingredient for good skin care. Borrowing a little of Yellowstone Park’s cache and a little from the busy bees seemed like a fitting tribute to Mother Nature – hence, the name Yellowstone Bees.

Yellowstone Bees has been been making natural body care products for 12 years that are safe, healthy and effective. Their products include Hand & Body Creams, Lip & Foot Balms, Bath Oils & Crystals, Aromatherapy Mists and more.

River Road Produce and Flowers is operated by Vince and Darlene Guhin and family. The Guhin’s have been working on this farm, west of Bozeman, for over 30 years producing organically-grown vegetables and flowers.

The Guhin’s have worked with the Community Food Co-op for most of these years, delivering very small bunches of veggies and flowers once a week to the original College Street store. As the Co-op expanded, so to did their farm. The Guhin’s also provided the Co-op with their farm eggs.

“We appreciate the Co-op’s role in encouraging and working with local farming and ranching,” notes Darlene. “Supplying a market for the products is one of its most valuable roles to us, the producers.”

The Western Montana Growers Cooperative is a coalition of growers in the Flathead, Jocko, Mission and Bitterroot Valleys, as well as Belt, MT, whose goal is to provide the wholesale market in the Western region of Montana with fresh, quality products from their farms. To reach that goal, the cooperative provides a wholesale marketing and delivery service for its members.

WMGC strives to improve the “local food system” of our area by enhancing the sustainability of local farms and contributing to local economic growth, while also reducing the demand of produce being shipped here from long distances.

The co-operative began in early 2003 and started to sell member produce between Polson and Missoula that summer.

Today, WMCG provides the Co-op with fruit, herbs, vegetables, eggs, cheese and grains.
Most WMCG member farms are either Certified Organic or members of the Montana Sustainable Growers Union (Homegrown).