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Who would have thought a small group of mostly Amish and Old-Order Mennonite farmers would be behind the business recently honored as Whole Foods Market’s Mid-Atlantic Region Supplier of the Year?
Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative (LFFC) — a nonprofit cooperative of more than 100 small-scale, certified-organic farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — traces its roots to spring 2006 when nine Plain Sect farmers gathered in a barn to discuss concerns over being paid too little for their organic products. Today, the co-op is among 27 suppliers Whole Foods honored in its sixth annual Supplier Awards as “best in class in sourcing, and commitment to the highest quality standards.”
What’s special about LFFC is not just its humble beginnings and this big-league award. Of greater significance is that LFFC stands as a model for how organics can preserve farming as a viable livelihood, and affirms small growers’ role in maintaining the reputation of organics for agricultural and culinary excellence.
Lancaster County lays claim to some of the most fertile soils in the U.S. The county also ranks among leaders in the nation for preserved farmland, with more than 100,000 acres protected. The area retains much of its agricultural landscape, thanks to Plain Sect religious communities who view farming as part of their Christian duties. Suburbanization and the high price of land, however, drive many to sell their properties, find nonfarming income, or relocate to affordable farmland. Others find a profitable niche in organic agriculture.
A small share, great for two people.
LFFC bridges the gap between organic growers and consumers willing to pay the organic premium. The co-op headquarters is within a few hours of major Mid-Atlantic cities. Inside its 150-mile delivery radius, LFFC’s thriving wholesale division serves restaurants, retailers, hospitals, and schools in the Greater Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington, and New York City metropolitan areas. The co-op also feeds 2,000-plus Community Supported Agriculture members.
Casey Spacht, LFFC general manager, credits the cooperative’s small size for its nimbleness and personalized service. LFFC picks up produce at the farms and handles marketing, distribution, and administrative details. Spacht can also connect chefs and farmers by phone or in-person to ensure specific quantities at specific times. The cooperative takes fresh seriously, and delivery time—generally within 24 hours of harvest—further fuels demand.
Casey Spacht, LFFC general manager
LFFC makes organic certification worth it. Farmers enjoy maximum sales of their goods with minimized marketing costs. The co-op helps keep families farming, protecting huge chunks of Lancaster County’s land for sustainable agriculture. According to the county’s visitors bureau, ag-related tourism revenues have mounted to roughly $58 million annually.
As Laura Batcha, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, reminded in a recent Civil Eats article, “If you grow organic as a model of excellence in agriculture and commerce, you have the benefit of protecting the environment and enhancing community well-being and rural livelihood.”
Given the unmatched taste and appeal of organics at peak freshness, LFFC also fuels the category’s pipeline of customers — from chefs inspired by the finest ingredients for seasonal menus, to consumers hungry for more after experiencing culinary delight. LFFC and small organic growers throughout the country foster preference for organic produce virtually everywhere consumers make food choices.
Amazon bought Whole Foods Market for many reasons, but the store’s reputation for organics amid louder calls for sustainability and quality is no doubt among them. In announcing the 2018 Supplier Awards, the retailer saluted LFFC’s mission: “focus on creating healthy, high quality foods from highly maintained and enriched soils on small-scale family farms.” To LFFC’s Plain Sect farmers, the co-op is all that and more —a lifeline in the modern marketplace preserving family farms and a centuries-old way of life.
