Consumers looking to make healthy food choices don't have to look any farther than northern Butler County.

A group of five local farms, all that use natural growing methods, have banded together to form a co-op with five other farms spread between Washington, Crawford and Mercer counties.

The farms include JP Farms in Slippery Rock, Prospect Meadow Berry Farm in Prospect, Silver Wheel Farm in Harrisville, Schoentag Farm in Hilliards and Mickley Organics of Volant.

As the Northwest Pennsylvania Growers Co-op, the farmers hope to increase their economic potential by sharing business costs, increasing diversity and pooling products to serve large markets.

According to Mary Finke of Meadow Berry Farm, the cooperative began a year ago when the growers met at a local farmer's market, a primary venue for selling their produce. They agreed to sell cooperatively to North County Brewery in Slippery Rock.

"No one was quite big enough, but together, we are better able to meet the demand," she said.

Bob McCafferty, who owns the brew pub and eatery, said his main purchases include potatoes and produce for the salads — and he is pleased with the arrangement.

"They're all great people,"he said. "They come in and deliver at a moment's notice.

"If one of the farmers can't get it, the formed co-op will line up whatever you're looking for."

Over the past year, the farmers have been working with the Keystone Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping groups become co-ops.

Keystone is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural cooperative development grants. It services the Mid-Atlantic region of Pennsylvania — and to a lesser extent Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware.

Since joining, the group has developed a business plan, written the bylaws and originated its product standards.

Tanya Turner, a cooperative development specialist at Keystone, said the group received its articles of incorporation last month.

"What the farmers have done is important because it gives them the opportunity to increase their profitability," she said. "They are coming together to share the cost of business and to develop a market where they are selling everything they possibly can."

The co-op is offering sustainable and environmentally friendly farm products, including fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, bread and plants, Turner said.

"Consumers need to realize that by knowing their local farmers, they can determine how the product is produced," she said. "By knowing how it's produced, the customers are able to make conscious health decisions."

Finke agrees.

"It just makes sense," she said. "When you buy something out of state, you don't know how it is grown or who is growing it.

"Plus the cost of fuel. Most food travels 2,500 to 3,000 miles before it gets here. Think of the amount of fuel wasted for something that could be bought locally."

Finke also said many foods develop a majority of their vitamins at the end of the ripening stage.

"They have to pick them when they are not really ripe so they can ship them in time," she said. "But if they aren't ripe, you're not getting all of the nutrients you should."

In addition, Turner stressed the economical importance of purchasing locally grown foods.

"The money spent is not going to California produce," she said. "It's staying local.

Turner said some of the farms had worked together even before the group decided to form a co-op.

"The groups have known each other for several years, more or less," she said. "But they had been working in two groups cooperatively until this year, when they decided to move forward with formally incorporate."

To make the arrangment work, the farmers coordinate the orders, packing and delivery, Turner said.

Someday, when the financial position permits, co-op members hope to hire a manager who will be responsible for coordinating the orders and also developing the market.

Besides continuing to service North Country Brewery, the co-op hopes to stretch out to other restaurant, wholesale and retail markets. It also hopes to expand its product base by adding more members to the co-op.

"I think it gets the produce out to more venues,"said Pat Nelson, who runs JPFarm with her husband.

"You can reach more people and organizations through the co-op. Plus, there are the benefits with the insurance."

Nelson also encourages Western Pennsylvania residents to buy local when possible.

"If you're buying local, you can guarantee what you're getting is going to be a fresh product,"she said. "Growers around here are using environmentally friendly methods when growing and the produce keeps better."

McCafferty says Western Pennsylvania should be proud of its homegrown products.

"This way, we're less dependent on out-of-towners," he said. "We defintely love it."

Other co-op members include Clen Croft Farm of Centerville, Washington County; B&CGardens of Springboro, Crawford County; Nuway Farm of Freedonia, Mercer County; Phil's Organic Pharm of Cambridge Springs, Crawford County; and Fruitful Farms of Cochranton, Crawford County.

For more information, contact Nelson at 724-794-8397 or John Clendenin at 814-694-3006.