About WMGC

Western Montana Growers Cooperative (WMGC) is a coalition of growers in the Flathead, Jocko, Mission and Bitterroot Valleys whose goal is to provide the market in our region with fresh, quality products from our farms. To reach that goal, the cooperative provides a wholesale marketing and delivery service for its members. We strive to improve the local food system of our area by enhancing the sustainability of local farms and contributing to local economic growth, while reducing the demand of produce being shipped here from long distances.

WMGC is farmer-owned and supplies a full plate of Montana-grown products including fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, lentils, honey, meats, and other value added items. Our passionate staff members collaborate closely with our farmers and food producers to ensure seamless service from pre-harvest to delivery at your door.

Since 2003, we have worked hard to develop deep and lasting relationships with our customers. WMGC now serves grocery stores, restaurants, and institutions across Montana and into Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington. In addition to serving wholesale markets, in 2008, we started providing the same products in a weekly delivery box to individual customers. We continue that service of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) throughout Western Montana bringing our food directly to local food lovers (see our CSA page for more information).

By providing a marketing and delivery service, WMGC allows member farms to concentrate on producing great local food while making it more accessible to buyers. Our customers have access to all of our farms with one sales transaction and one delivery. WMGC believes in making fresh and nutritious local food available to our community, while fairly supporting local agricultural producers. This business model makes this goal possible.

Our Mission

The goal of the Western Montana Growers Cooperative (WMGC) is to provide consumers within our region with a wide range of fresh, quality products from independently owned ranches, farms and food processing operations.
To reach that goal, we, as producer members and employees of the WMGC are committed to building a stable organization based on cooperative principles which integrates food production, acquisition, marketing and distributing systems to serve western Montana and adjacent regions.

Our Vision

The values and vision embodied in this goal of a regionally based local food system are:

1. Sustainability

WMGC strives to maintain the identity, integrity and long term viability of locally produced and distributed food products within the regional marketplace by supporting and serving a diverse base of independently owned farms, ranches and food processors.

2. Cooperation

WMGC members and employees work together to effectively build relationships between each other, non-member suppliers and consumers that strengthen the larger communities of which we are a part.

3. Appropriate Technology

WMGC members produce and market to western Montana communities and surrounding regions at scales that fit their operations while utilizing infrastructure and distribution systems that minimize economic and environmental costs for everyone.

5. Land Stewardship

Member owned farms and ranches manage their land in a sustainable manner and preserve the rural landscape in ways that benefit the environment and local communities.

4. Quality Products

WMGC monitors growing practices and quality control procedures to achieve high quality standards and ensure products handled meet all food safety requirements and market needs.

6. Social Equity

WMGC members and their employees interact with and provide for all segments of their local communities in the process of producing and distributing nourishing, locally grown food products.

Business Objectives

The business objectives crucial to realizing our goals are:

Maintaining the identity and integrity of locally produced and distributed food products within the regional marketplace.
Maintaining economic efficiency and environmental sustainability in all operating and distribution systems.
Supporting and serving a diverse membership base of independently owned small farms and ranches.
Developing quality control procedures to assist in achieving high standards, thereby ensuring members meet food safety and market needs.