During June, shoppers at Monadnock Food Co-op can round up the change from their purchases to benefit the Co-op’s Farm Fund, created through a partnership with the Cheshire County Conservation District, to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy.

Typically co-op customers contribute between $4,000 and $7,000 to a non profit throughout a month-long Round Up Donation Drive, but the co-op’s Board of Directors hopes to raise more to meet the need for this grant opportunity. Last year local farmers applied for three times as much money as was available to distribute from the fund, all for worthy improvements. Everything donated by community members to the Farm Fund goes directly to these projects.

“We hope shoppers will take advantage of the ability to round their purchases up to the nearest $5 or $10 to donate more, since this is the easiest way for people to make a donation,” said Kathleen Burke, President of the co-op’s Board of Directors “This fund is so effective; the grants distributed this year have enabled three local farmers to scale up production to meet the demand from our local community just by installing bigger coolers and a frost-free irrigation system.”

The $9,800 raised for the Farm Fund in 2016 was distributed this spring to Manning Hill Farm in Winchester, Archway Farm in Keene and Flying Cloud Dairy in Alstead. These farms sell their products at the co-op, The Farmers Market of Keene and at small local retailers and farm stands around our region.

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund supports several of the co-op’s goals, including a healthy, sustainable food system, the support of local farmers and producers and a strong, sustainable and improving local economy. The Cheshire County Conservation District supports the viability of farm businesses and the stewardship of natural resources that farmers provide.

For more information on the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, visit:
www.monadnockfood.coop/farmfund.