Big Table Farm Cooperative today announced its official formation as a producer co-op, a move designed to strengthen local agriculture through farm businesses banding together.
Founded by a group of three women farmers, the co-op aims to offer fresh, seasonal local produce to its Cincinnati area farm subscription members through a democratically run, producer-owned business model, according to a press release.
Farmers Marykate Glenn, Lindsey Melling and Becky Richey have been working together collaboratively for three years under Glenn’s farm business name, Mustard Seed Farm CSA.
“Over 200 families in our farm subscription program already know us and the foundation we’ve built by working together “informally” for several years,” Richey said in the release. “The co-op is a legal structure that recognizes our shared ownership and deepens the benefit of sharing our resources for each farmer.”
The new entity will continue to focus on expanding local food access for their customers through their pay-as-you-can pricing model. Mustard Seed Farm, now Big Table Farm Co-op, has offered a weekly subscription to their locally grown fresh produce from June to November. Often known as Community Supported Agriculture the program provides mutual support between the local growers and consumers to share the risks and benefits of food production.
Glenn, Melling and Richey said in the release that it’s important to them to produce good food for all, regardless of income.
“No matter what you pay for membership, each person contributing what’s right for them helps meet the needs of the whole group, and helps us, your farmers, to make a living,” Glenn said.
Their farm’s online membership form is open now with the first harvest scheduled for distribution on June 4.