By Organic Produce Network
January 30, 2020
Green Field Farms delivers the trifecta of leading consumer trends – organic, local, sustainable – with unparalleled authenticity grounded in the heritage and values of their faith. They shared their vision, mission, and the practices that set them apart at the first “Beyond Organic Forum”, held January 22 in Wilmot, OH. Seventy attendees, including customers, suppliers, growers, and other industry professionals, learned more about Green Field Farms, discussed marketplace trends, and networked with industry peers.
Green Field Farms (GFF) is a farmer owned co-op representing 90 Amish and Conservative Mennonite family farms spanning approximately 700 acres in Ohio and Michigan. Co-op members produce and market USDA certified organic vegetables, eggs, milk, and sauerkraut, combining old-world farming practices and the tenets of their faith, values, and way of life to sustainably deliver high-quality, high-value, fresh products.
Established in 2003, the vision of GFF is to preserve the agrarian lifestyle of the plain communities by sustainably supporting the members’ small family farms and inspiring people and communities to practice faithful land stewardship.
“Just one generation ago, 90 percent of Amish families made their living from farming,” said Wayne Wengerd, a GFF founder. “Today, it’s closer to 10%. For the plain communities, farming is more than a source of food and income; it’s the essence and reflection of our beliefs and way of life.”
Concerned about future generations, 20 Amish farmers formed Green Field Farms cooperative to revitalize their culture’s rich farming history and protect their way of life.
Central to the GFF mission is developing profitable niche markets for the agricultural products the plain communities produce, and creating a local economy that enables them to thrive. The founders recognized that for their small farms to compete against larger, mechanized agricultural operations, they had to deliver greater value per acre through differentiation.
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