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Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) leases a truck from New Morning Farm to delivers produce to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. TOG’s staff of 4 full time employees and up to 18 part time employees ensures each farm receives 70-75% of the sale of their produce. The balance is used to operate the co-op and make deliveries to its markets in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Starting in 1988, Tuscarora currently has 50 producer-members and generates about $3.5 million in annual sales. The members’ farms average 5-15 acres, with their major products being produce destined for restaurants, food co-ops and independent retailers. By providing a marketing and distribution system for small-scale produce growers in the Northeast, the Tuscarora co-op helps members’ diversify their crops and increase profitability.

Each Peach Market, established in 2013, is a full service grocery store providing produce, dairy, farm fresh eggs, meat, beer and wine, prepared foods and more in the Mount Pleasant district of Washington, D.C. The market staff is ready and willing to tell about how and where the foods are from and suggest ways to prepare meals. Jeanelouise Conaway and Emily Freidberg co-own the market and say they like to “…share our love for good food and the DIY culinary spirit with our community.” They feature many local products grown and made in the region, and use suppliers such as Tuscarora to get them into this urban market.

For the story behind these photos go to Rural Cooperatives Magazine and subscribe to future digital editions at www.rd.usda.gov/publications/rural-cooperatives-magazine

For more information about USDA Rural Development please go to www.rd.usda.gov/

For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov