Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative

Path Valley, Pennsylvania

Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) is our single largest supplier of local organic produce.  We've been working with them since we started our business, and have developed a truly symbiotic relationship.  We buy produce from our friends at TOG, but they also use us to deliver their produce to some restaurants in the DC metro area.

TOG took root in 1988 when a group of neighboring organic fruit and vegetable farmers discussed the possibility of joining forces in the marketing of their products. By working together, they could coordinate crop production to complement one another rather than compete. And they could enjoy economies of scale in shipping and selling. The cooperative form of business fit the farmers' needs, allowing ownership and market access to be divided fairly and decisions to be made jointly. And through cooperation, the growers were able to serve their customers better, by providing a diversity of crops and a level of service that no one grower could provide on his own. In TOG's first season, seven growers moved about 1,500 cases of produce to Washington DC retailers over a five-month period. Since then, each succesive season has brought steady growth in sales as well as diversity, season length and professionalism. In the coming season, TOG will work with over 28 member producers and 17 non-member producers to bring a projected 100,000 cases of produce from farm to city, offering locally grown, certified organic produce all 12 months of the year. Check out their website at http://www.tog.coop/

CHAPEL'S COUNTRY CREAMERY

Talbot County, MD

Chapel's Country Creamery farm is nestled away in the countryside of Talbot County, MD. Eric and Holly Foster's farm is home to 110 Jersey and Holstein dairy cows that graze on clover and rye grass on 45 acres of pasture. The Fosters' artisanal cheeses (Cheddar, Cave Aged, Jack, and Colby Dill) are hand-crafted by the Fosters and an Amish artisanal cheesemaker. The milk is all natural and contains no synthetic hormones, antibiotics or chemical compounds. By producing their own cheese from start to finish, Chapel's Country Creamery insures the highest quality possible. For more information, see chapelscreamery.com

FIREFLY FARM

Garrett County, MD

Dedicated to the art of natural cheese making, FireFly Farm makes their artisan cheeses according to time-honored tradition. Their cheeses are produced and ripened by hand, with special care given to ensure the purity, quality and clean flavor of the milk. Their cheeses are also carried in the DC-area Whole Foods markets and featured in several DC restaurants. For more information, see www.fireflyfarms.com.

Windy Knoll Farm

Our eggs come from our friends at Windy Knoll Farms.  The hens are fed organically, are free-ranging and never de-beaked.  Most folks say the eggs we get from Windy Knolls are the best they have ever had, and we couldn't agree more, it's like tasting an egg for the first time!