The 'Fergus Fresh' Mission
Grow your own food- and sell it through the Big Spring Market!
The Big Spring Market is committed to facilitating the “relocalization” of food in Lewistown and Central Montana through its Fergus Fresh program. Our goal is to promote, support, and sell local foods of superior freshness and quality that have been raised sustainably. In doing so, we hope to make it easier for Central Montanans to find and purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats and poultry, eggs, honey, and other agricultural products.
Marketing local foods that are raised sustainably will stimulate and help secure and maintain the economic vitality of Central Montana by strengthening the productivity and viability of family farms and independent businesses, encourage resource-conserving grower practices, and promote environmentally sound agriculture.
Fergus Fresh at a Glance: The Market’s Colored Labeling System
All Fergus Fresh growers and producers are required to fill out the Big Spring Market Grower and Production Practices Questionnaire prior to sale through the market. These surveys will be visible in the store and available for consumers to review at any time. In addition to the survey, the producer may also include his/her logo, a photo, a short bio, or other information of interest to consumers. The Fergus Fresh labeling system is designed to educate and enable shoppers to differentiate between certified organic, sustainably grown, and conventional agricultural products at a glance. While shopping, consumers will be alerted to the system and informed by the following:
> Brochures or rack cards that describe the labeling system
> Large store signs describing the 'Fergus Fresh' system
> Fergus Fresh stickers will be attached to all agricultural products from the Central Montana region or “foodshed”
> Surveys of grower practices (the grower questionnaires) will be kept in an in-store notebook and available for public review at all times
> Distinctly colored product labels on produce, eggs and meat items. Labels will include grower’s name, location, a brief item description, price (regular and/or member special), and denote general grower practices at a glance
Fergus Fresh (sunflower)
Any agricultural product- food or fiber- grown and produced within the Central Montana region/foodshed receives the 'Fergus Fresh' label.
Certified Organic (green)
Certified Organic describes products that are certified organic in compliance with O.C.I.A., N.O.P. or the State of Montana guidelines. Grower must provide a copy of third-party certification and notified the market if the status of certification changes.
Sustainably Grown (yellow)
Sustainably grown products are produced or grown using sustainable, organic growing practices, but are non-certified by the State of Montana. The Big Spring Market retains the right to determine who receives the sustainable label based on practices the grower reports in his or her grower questionnaire.
Conventional (white)
Conventionally grown describes produce and agricultural products, and non-organic food purchased from large retailers. Consumers should refer to the grower’s survey for production details on conventional locally grown foods.
A few more details...
Food grown or produced in regions outside of the Central Montana region, but within the state of Montana, will be labeled according to location and farm or producer name. To receive the sustainable label, the grower must have completed the Big Spring Market grower survey and have been designated sustainable by the market.
The Sustainably Grown Label: Verification and Grower Practices Required- There are many pesticides, herbicides, and other products available for organic farming, animal production, food processing and gardening, which are safe and are approved for use by the co-op for its sustainable growers. The Organic Materials Review Institute has an amazingly long list of safe and acceptable products at www.omri.org. Their product list/book is available for either purchase or free download online.
Labeling for Locally Produced Meats- Certified organic meat will be labeled accordingly by the Big Spring Market. Producers will be responsible for labeling their own meats as grain finished, grass finished, natural, no hormones, or no antibiotics, etc. All local meats will receive the red Fergus Fresh sticker. Consumers may refer to the grower’s Production Practices Questionnaire for details on any local meats.
Locally Grown Flowers and Plants- No flowers or plants will be accepted by the Big Spring Market that have been sprayed with synthetic or petroleum derived pesticides.
