Partnership brings fresh, local food to Park County area communities
Livingston, MT, July 25, 2022 – Livingston Food Resource Center, Western Montana Growers Cooperative, and Montana Farmers Union are working together to bring boxes of fresh, local food to communities across Park County and surrounding areas.
Montana Farmers Union (MFU) provided $20,000 for the purchase and distribution of local food boxes by Livingston Food Resource Center in March 2022. The grant funds will purchase nearly 600 boxes of fresh, local produce, cheese, and milk from the Western Montana Growers Cooperative. These funds are a continuation of financial support provided to Mission West Community Development Partners for the distribution of food boxes in western Montana during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the funding is to connect families and communities in need with fresh, healthy foods while supporting local farmers and agriculture.
Western Montana Growers Cooperative will source and deliver food to Livingston Food Resource Center, where the local produce, cheese, and milk will be packed into family-sized boxes. The boxes will then be distributed by food pantries and other community organizations to families in Park County and surrounding communities. Distribution sites include Emigrant, Clyde Park, Big Timber, Harlowton, Lewiston, and White Sulphur Springs.
“It helps build our local food economies so when you have Montana food procurement from Montana producers, you build a more sustainable food economy chain.”
Jan Tusick – MFU Board Member
“We are thrilled to take part in this program,” says George Pierce, Executive Director of Livingston Food Resource Center. “Connecting local families to local food is essential in creating equity. All people, regardless of age, income, or location deserve to take part in our local food system.”
“It helps build our local food economies so when you have Montana food procurement from Montana producers, you build a more sustainable food economy chain. Farmers Union supports family farms and to be able to support these farmers by procuring from them directly to feed Montana families, you’ve created a new economic opportunity for these farmers,” MFU board member Jan Tusick said.
Livingston Food Resource Center is a food access organization with a mission to eliminate hunger in Livingston and Park County by acquiring and distributing healthful food to individuals and families in need; playing a leadership role in developing a strong, sustainable, local food system; addressing the root causes of hunger in Livingston and Park County; and supporting food related economic development and job creation. Montana Farmers Union is a grassroots, nonprofit organization working for family farms, ranches, rural communities, and supports its members through strong education programs for both youth and adults, by advocating member-driven policies and legislation at the state and federal level, and cooperation through producer-owned co-ops.
