In September 2005, a large group of residents from the greater Orange County region in Southern Indiana gathered to discuss plans to support the growers of local specialty foods and to enhance their availability within the region. A steering committee began to develop the Lost River Community Cooperative. Since that time, the group has been off and running!
Success Stories
In the fall of 2005, a group of farmers in the Laughery Valley in the Southeastern region of Indiana came together to meet with the ICDC staff and discuss the feasibility of joining forces to develop local markets for their produce. The initial meeting stirred the creativity of the group and soon the Laughery Valley Growers Cooperative began to take shape with six local growers. They agreed to begin their marketing efforts with the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model which would be called the “FarmFreshCSA”.
FOLLOW ICDC
“ICDC was pivotal to developing Lost River Market and Deli in a community that doesn’t match the normal food co-op demographic. Incorporation, bylaws, organizing a steering committee—but the largest impact was ICDC’s consistent attention, offering advice, finding resources and avenues of support and helping us tell our story to members and funders.”
—Debbie Turner, Lost River Market and Deli