Great Falls-based Montana Food Hub Cooperative Set to Launch Statewide Distribution Network

The Montana Food Hub Cooperative, based in Great Falls, is preparing to begin operations to reconnect producers and wholesale buyers across Montana and "keep more food dollars circulating within the state," according to reporting published Feb. 25, 2026. Organizers say the multi-stakeholder co-op aims to help small and mid-sized farms scale beyond farmers' markets while giving grocery stores, restaurants and schools steadier access to Montana-grown products.

The co-op's governance and mission are built around a community-driven model. Director and board member Lyndsay Laursen framed the problem this way: "There's a big gap. You're either small and direct-to-consumer, or you have to be big enough to work with a major distributor. We're trying to help fill that middle space." Montana Food Hub materials also carry the tagline "Providing a sustainable way to feed our community" and describe the group as "A community-driven cooperative, passionately bridging the gap between growers, value-added producers, food businesses, wholesale buyers, retail customers, and all those who love real, local food."

Operationally, the hub will use an online platform where growers list available products and wholesale buyers place orders; producers then deliver goods to a central pickup point for distribution. Local reporting and the co-op's materials identify Fresh Rescue Kitchen in Great Falls as the facility the hub will utilize to facilitate much of the order receipt and distribution process as the co-op begins operations.

The organization has scheduled its first Annual Members Meeting on March 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., to be held in person at Fresh Rescue Kitchen with an online attendance option. Agenda items listed by organizers include board updates, an outline of priorities, opening nominations for two Producer Board positions, and soliciting member input to shape the co-op's next phase as it moves toward consistent operations. The co-op's website hosts the meeting's online access link and the nomination form.

Statewide context for Montana Food Hub's plan includes other cooperative models already operating in Montana. The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, a separate Billings-area cooperative, connects more than 35 local farms, ranches and food artisans and uses an online-shop model with multiple pickup locations; that example illustrates the scale and logistical templates Montana Food Hub organizers will be adapting for a broader statewide network.

Montana Food Hub outreach materials list membership options, downloadable flyers, and tools to "plan an event" to recruit growers and buyers. Organizers say the coming weeks will focus on onboarding producers and institutional buyers, but several operational specifics remain to be confirmed publicly — the co-op's formal launch date, the roster of producers and grocery or institutional buyers already signed up, funding sources and the staffing and cold-chain logistics for routine statewide distribution. The March 16 members meeting is positioned as the immediate decision point for those next steps.