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When you walk into the Co-op, you are often greeted with one of our colorful flower displays. Like the seasons, flowers come in their varieties and color palettes and, in this week's Vendor Spotlight: Kokoro Farm's case, are sustainably grown!
The name Kokoro comes from the Japanese word "with heart" or "to have a heart," which has been their mission statement since their start in 2016 by farmers Meara and Travis. Meara started her farming career with an internship in Paonia, Colorado, before studying at the University of Montana and graduating with a BS in Resource Conservation. Before Kokoro Farm, Travis was a wildland firefighter. Travis met Meara in 2012, working part-time at the farm in 2015 doing trail work before going full-time at the farm in 2017. The duo started the farm on a 1/4 acre of land in Moiese, Montana, before moving to Bozeman in 2016 to combine both of their skill on a farm with more land. After selling at markets, the farm began working with Meara's sister, Kylie, and her farm, Three Seed Farm. From there, they have been able to not only grow fresh and ethical flowers but delicious produce as well!
Through heart, Kokoro uses ethical, sustainable, and regenerative practices for its flowers and produce. They do this by using techniques such as rotational cover crops, which are plants planted over previous crops to encourage soil enrichment. By rotating the soil, Kokoro not only maintains the soil's health and improves the surrounding area's habitat but also provides a higher yield for its flowers and produces!
You can find these flowers in the front of both our West Main and Downtown locations!