Growing community with a cooperative of organic farmers

DENVER - It was a small, yet brilliant idea that never really took root when farmers pitched the idea five years ago.

In 2004 and 2005, Colorado's organic farmers banded together to come up with a way to pool their resources in hopes of selling those organic onions, apples, peaches and potatoes to Denver's independent restaurants.

The idea was a smash hit, but it was losing money.

"Sometimes, it's telling a farmer that you need to do what you're best at," said Brian Freeman, who works with Grower's Organic, a farming cooperative for Colorado farmers.

Freeman, formerly with Wild Oats Markets, has a background in marketing. He began working with Grower's Organic when he saw potential and inspiration in the cooperative's core ideals.

"What's different between buying food out of a box and buying it from a farmer is that you're taking the time, meeting the farmer, researching where it's coming from and where it's going, getting the best meats... there's something comforting about that," Freeman said.

Now, instead of losing money, the co-op makes $4 million a year.

For Chef Matt Selby of Vesta Dipping Grill in LoDo, there's no better special ingredient than one produced with local, organic and independent produce.

"I'd like to think our guests notice and they feel like walking out of here feeling fed, comfortable and happy rather than overfed and bleeeeeeh, you know what I mean?" Selby said.

Freeman does the marketing to the independent restaurants so that farmers can stay in their comfort zones.

"Farmers enjoy the farmer's market setting," Freeman said, "but when you have such a small timeframe for growing in Colorado, the best place they can be is on the tractor or taking care of their land, not spending eight hours in front of a booth at a farmer's market."

The cooperative pools together produce from farmers to ensure farmers are charging a competitive rate while still getting their money's worth. Being a co-op, Grower's Organic shares 7 percent of its net profit with those farmers who join. Another 3 percent goes to Grower's Organic employees.

To learn more about Grower's Organic, you can visit http://www.growersorganic.com/.