Farm-to-Freezer Program at the Co-op by Meghan McPhaul Hamilton

The Littleton Food Co-op is taking the local food movement beyond the traditional growing season of the North Country.

As a member of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), the Littleton Co-op is participating in a pilot program to offer frozen fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers to its customers.

“Food co-ops have been innovators in the food system, from organic and fairly traded goods to rebuilding local and regional economies. While our region has a vibrant tradition of family farms and agricultural co-ops, much of the frozen produce on our shelves is grown on large, industrial farms, and processed by distant corporations,” said Erbin Crowell, executive director of NFCA. “Working in collaboration with family farmers, farmer co-ops, and processors we are piloting products that are grown, processed and packaged right here in the Northeast.” 

The pilot program includes frozen blueberries, green beans, sweet corn, and broccoli, all grown in Vermont, New York, and southern Quebec. All four frozen products are available at the Littleton Food Co-op, with hopes to expand the program to more frozen fruits and vegetables and more local farmers next year.

“We’re excited to be participating in this program,” said Littleton Food Co-op Manager Ed King. “It’s important that we try to capture the local market year-round, but the growing season here is short. We hope to expand the offerings next year and work with additional farmers in our area.”

The NFCA is a network of 20 food cooperatives, community-owned by more than 90,000 people. For more information, visit www.nfca.coop.

Member-owned Littleton Consumer Cooperative Society, Inc. strives to serve the North Country of New Hampshire and Northeast Kingdom of Vermont by providing a broad range of high quality food products, offered at a fair price, with outstanding service.