The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) was the first retailer organization to join the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership’s efforts to save organic dairy farms in our region.
Organic dairy farms are at risk of closing across our region. In the fall of 2021, 135 organic family farms across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and eastern New York received contract terminations jeopardizing the livelihoods of farmers and the security of regionally-produced milk.
The Partnership, a collaboration of farmers, processors, retailers, activists, and government agencies, invites consumers to pledge to purchase at least one-fourth of their weekly organic dairy purchases from brands that have committed to sourcing their dairy from Northeast organic family farmers. A central goal of the effort is to increase demand for dairy produced in our region, creating market stability to help at-risk farms and build greater food system resilience for the future.
You have a role in saving organic dairy farms in the Northeast!
- Look for the Partnership Seal! There are 30+ brands committed to sourcing dairy from within the region. Keep your dollars supporting local and organic.
- Take the Partnership Pledge! The NFCA is encouraging shoppers to consider purchasing one-quarter of their weekly dairy products from participating brands.
- Shop at your Local Food Co-op! On average over 30% of sales at NFCA Member Co-ops are local products, including those produced by organic dairy farms.
Your Neighboring Food Co-ops have a long history of supporting local producers and this Partnership is an opportunity for food co-ops and their members to reinforce their commitment to our farmers. Building on the participation of the NFCA, food co-ops across the Northeast have been leaders in signing on to the partnership, including:
- Assabet Co-op Market (Maynard, MA)
- Belfast Community Co-op (Belfast, ME)
- Blue Hill Co-op (Blue Hill, ME)
- Brattleboro Food Co-op (Brattleboro, VT)
- Buffalo Mountain Co-op Market (Hardwick, VT)
- Fare Share Food Co-op (Norway, ME)
- Fiddleheads Food Co-op (New London, CT)
- Flatbush Food Co-op (Brooklyn, NY)
- Franklin Community Co-op (Greenfield & Shelburne Falls, MA)
- Good Tern Food Co-op (Rockland, ME)
- Hanover Co-op Food Stores (Hanover & Lebanon, NH; White River Jct, VT)
- High Falls Food Co-op (High Falls, NY)
- Hunger Mountain Co-op (Montpelier, VT)
- Leverett Village Co-op (Leverett, MA)
- Littleton Food Co-op (Littleton, NH)
- Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op (Middlebury, VT)
- Monadnock Food Co-op (Keene, NH)
- Morrisville Food Co-op (Morrisville, VT)
- North Country Food Co-op (Plattsburgh, NY)
- Old Creamery Co-op (Cummington, MA)
- Park Slope Food Co-op (Brooklyn, NY)
- Plainfield Food Co-op (Plainfield, VT)
- Portland Food Co-op (Portland, ME)
- Putney Food Co-op (Putney, VT)
- Quabbin Harvest Co-op (Orange, MA)
- Rising Tide Co-op (Damariscotta, ME)
- River Valley Co-op (Northampton & Easthampton, MA)
- Rutland Area Food Co-op (Rutland, VT)
- Springfield Food Co-op (Springfield, VT)
- TipTop Food Co-op (Brookfield, MA)
- Upper Valley Food Co-op (White River Junction, VT)
- Wild Oats Co-op Market (Williamstown, MA)
- Willimantic Food Co-op (Willimantic, CT)
- Wolfeboro Food Co-op (Wolfeboro, NH)
Don’t see your local food co-op on this list? Encourage them to visit the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership to learn more about how they can support our region’s organic dairy farmers and our agricultural communities.