Home

Membership

CFAC members envision Missoula's food future in April 2009.

Membership in CFAC is about being part of the movement to build a healthy local food system. You're invited to join us at the table. CFACmembers are finding solutions to western Montana's broken food system. As a result of our collective efforts, CFAC has helped put local food on the public agenda -- including farmland conservation, our local food economy, and the health of our children.

As our membership numbers grow, our collective power to create meaningful change grows too. Join CFAC and help expand the grassroots movement for a sustainable food system rooted in the community.

Join CFAC Today!

Food Access & Markets

farmtoschool CFAC has created a number of new markets for local foods with the goal of building economic opportunities for local farms, ranches, and food-related businesses, as well as increasing food access for all income levels.

Missoula Farm to School has connected Missoula schools with Montana growers to bring the healthy benefits of local food to the school lunchroom. Farm to School has also provided hands-on educational opportunities that teach students about ways to eat that are healthy for their bodies, their community, and the environment.

The Electronic Benefits Transfer program at Missoula's farmers markets enables folks to spend their food stamp dollars on fresh food, thus keeping more money in the community and putting good food on all tables.

Land Link Montana

The next generation of producers is eager to start farming and ranching, and they're looking to grow and raise the full range of the community's dietary needs: meats, fruits, veggies, grains, and dairy. They face several challenges in securing land and starting viable businesses.

Many owners of agricultural land--including retiring farmers and ranchers--want to lease or sell their land to a new farmer, but they do not know how to find the right person for their land and situation.

Land Link Montana is a farm and ranch transfer program in 7 western Montana counties to help connect landowners and land-seeking producers. If you are in one of these camps, we'd love to hear from you.

Community Food & Agriculture Coalition

CFAC is a multi-stakeholder coalition that addresses community needs related to food and agriculture in a comprehensive and creative way. The dedicated involvement of citizens, public officials, and people with a range of interests, such as farmers and anti-hunger advocates, is essential to securing the health of our local food and farming system.

To build a community-based food and farming system, CFAC works in the following areas:

Grow markets for local foods. Western Montana is gobbling up locally produced food in schools, universities, restaurants, farmers’ markets, and grocery stores. CFAC has been working to create new markets and ensure fresh, local food is accessible to families of all income levels. Our programs include: Farm to School, EBT (food stamps at farmers’ markets), and Buy Fresh Buy Local (restaurant initiative). What we’ve learned is that the market’s appetite for locally produced food often exceeds the supply, creating new business opportunities for agricultural enterprises.

Develop farm and ranchland conservation strategies that comprehensively protect the agricultural lands that are most viable for farming & ranching; provide predictability to developers, planners, policy makers, and residents; and respect the interests of agricultural landowners and the equity built in their land.

Help beginning farmers and ranchers get started. Land Link Montana is a farm and ranch transfer program that CFAC is piloting to help aspiring producers find suitable land and establish viable tenure arrangements.

Please join us in setting the table for a food and farming system rooted in community. CFAC seeks to involve all citizens in decisions that affect their food system. We are invite you to help us research, design, promote, and advocate for community solutions to food access, sustainable agriculture, and regional self-reliance. We all need to eat; please get involved.

What's New @ CFAC?

DISH: Co-Creating the Best New Ideas on Food

Join us on Thursday, May 9th from 6 - 8pm at the Flathead Lake Brewing Company (1st floor) for DISH! Our region has so much energy and enthusiasm around local food and farming.

Let's be in the same room more often!

Join us to share your latest ideas, test them out and improve them, and celebrate all the great work being done in Missoula! AND $.50 of each beer you drink will go to support our work!

SB 147 is Defeated - Ag Reigns Supreme!

Calls from Ag Land Network and CFAC members made it happen!

Governor Bullock showed his real commitment to preserving and enhancing agriculture in our state Monday as he vetoed Senate Bill 147.

Over the past 3 months, CFAC members and allies across the state rallied to make their voice heard.
Nearly 100 people travelled to Helena to give personal testimony during the Senate and House debates.

Over 200 people wrote to their legislators asking them to vote against the bill. Over 200 signed a letter to the Governor asking for a veto when the bill was pushed through both houses. Members wrote emails, made phone calls, and wrote Letters to the Editor. As a result of CFAC's tenacious work, and our members' timely and consistent engagement, this bill received the spotlight needed to get the veto!

In his veto letter, Governor Bullock stated, "Agriculture is a vital part of Montana's economy and culture. When evaluating a proposed development, a local community must be able to consider both short and long term agricultural impacts... SB 147 significantly limits the ability of locally-elected officials to reflect community values."

We agree! Thanks again to one and all for your support and efforts on this bill. Time to celebrate as we roll up our sleeves and set our sights back on Missoula County!

Right to Farm Ordinances Come to the Planning Board

Right to Farm & Ranch ordinances were the topic of discussion at a recent Planning Board meeting, along with the long and beautiful history of agriculture in Missoula County. Right to Farm & Ranch ordinances are used by counties to ensure that agricultural operations are protected and encouraged. For more about the meeting and Right to Farm, click here.

Draft Policies Up Next!

Draft subdivision regulation revisions will be the next step in Missoula County's process to develop farmland policy. At a meeting in early December, the Planning Board decided to move forward with Rural Initiatives' recommendations and asked planning staff to return in February with concrete revisions. The process has since encountered a minor hold while staff wrestle with the mitigation ordinance but we're hoping it will be back on track soon.