Montana Food for Montanans

by Crissie McMullan

KUFM commentary for AERO

December 2006

Montanans clearly take pride in our state’s farming and ranching. More than a few state legislators and even Governor Brian Schweitzer and our newly-elected U.S. Senator John Tester are boots-and-blue-jeans politicians whose farming credentials played no small role in their successful election campaigns. We expect, rightfully, that they will include the interests of farmers and ranchers in their policy priorities. Yet, if we think of agriculture in terms of its end product—food—then supporting Montana’s farmers and ranchers shouldn’t just be on the agenda of those policy-makers who happen to have the right to wear cowboy hats. After all, everybody eats!

As we work toward creating a Montana-based food system, the connections between farming and food become more apparent. The concept of a Montana-based food system is pretty simple: Montanans feed Montanans, keeping more of the three billion dollars we spend on food each year in-state. Right now, just 10-15 % of the food we eat is produced in Montana. If we increased that amount to 30%, an additional $450 million would stay in Montana, in the pockets of our farmers and ranchers. Another way to look at it is if each Montana household spent just $10 of their weekly grocery budget on Montana-produced food, an additional $186 million dollars would go into the pockets of our state's food producers each year. In return, we eaters would get food that is fresher and tastes better.

Turning this simple vision into a reality is where we need the help of our policy-makers. After all, you and I can only choose to purchase Montana-grown products if they are available where we buy food. One place where changes can be made relatively easily is in food service settings. Last year, nearly half of the food purchased in Montana was in restaurants and institutional cafeterias.

• Montana taxpayers actually own some food services, such as those in K-12 schools and universities, and some of these institutions have, in fact, committed to serving Montana-grown food. For example, last May, the University of Montana’s Farm to College program celebrated $1 million dollars in local and regional food purchases. That $1 million went directly back to farmers and ranchers who then spent that money in their communities. This July, Montana State University, Salish Kootenai College, UM Western, and Missoula County Public Schools launched similar Farm to Cafeteria programs. This means, with increasing frequency, Montana’s young leaders fuel their growth with Montana-grown meats, cheeses, grains, even cherries, raspberries and melons.

So what can our policy makers do, you ask? Right now state law requires institutions to buy the cheapest food possible. Even when they choose to purchase a Montana-grown item, the institution cannot purchase it if the cost is even a penny more than that of the national competition. Laws giving more flexibility to food buyers to choose Montana-grown food should be a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

Better yet would be policies supporting in-state food processing. For universities or even individuals to buy Montana-grown food, they need it to be made into a variety of different products. Just think of all the different potato products we consume: French fries, hash browns, tater tots, baking potatoes, mashed potatoes, the list goes on. Our state can and should support food processing so that Montanans can better feed themselves. We must invest, too, in an improved statewide distribution system to complement our well- developed export infrastructure. A Conrad-based lentil producer says he can get his product to Taiwan easier than he can get it to Helena. Clearly, this system is out of balance.

These suggestions for improved food policies are just a few ways we and our elected representatives, whether farmers, ranchers, or eaters, can support the interest of all Montanans. If you would like to learn more about Grow Montana, the coalition of food and agriculture organizations that I work with, as well as our plans for the upcoming legislative session and beyond, or if you would like to contribute your ideas, please visit our website at www.growmontana.ncat.org.

I'm Crissie McMullan for the Alternative Energy Resources Organization. AERO is a grassroots membership organization working to help create farm, food, and energy solutions for communities throughout Montana and a charter member of Grow Montana. AERO welcomes your comments and perspectives. For more information about AERO's programs, call us in Helena at (406) 443-7272.