8. Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG)

Location:

• Growers farm the highlands of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, most of them located in a six-county region of south central Pennsylvania known as the Juniata River Valley. The area is known for its rolling forested hills, numerous creeks and rivers, family-owned dairy farms, great outdoor recreation opportunities, summertime fire company carnivals, high unemployment, and tiny country churches.  The warehouse and office are located on New Morning Farm near Maddensville, north of McConnellsburg and near Exit 13 of the PA Turnpike (a little over 2 hours away from the edge of DC).

Why Interesting:

• Very successful and a typical cluster, but also heavily studied; members are held to strict standards; interesting use of information technology (a computer relational database) so that growers know what is expected of them, when.  Delivers year-round.

Common Feature 

• Organic products, delivered to major metros

Types and Numbers of Participants:

• Over 25 producers ranging from 2 acres of produce to 60 acres.  Average farm manages 20-30 acres of organic ground for fruits and vegetables.  Also get organic mushrooms from an organic house in Philadelphia (possible link to mushroom cluster).

Brief History:

• Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) took root in 1988 when a group of neighboring organic fruit and vegetable farmers discussed the possibility of joining forces in the marketing of their products.  By working together, they could coordinate crop production to complement one another rather than compete.  And they could enjoy economies of scale in shipping and selling.  The cooperative form of business fit the farmers' needs, allowing ownership and market access to be divided fairly and decisions to be made jointly.  And through cooperation, the growers were able to serve their customers better, by providing a diversity of crops and a level of service that no one grower could provide on his own.  In TOG's first season, seven growers moved about 1,500 cases of produce to Washington DC retailers over a five-month period. The next thirteen seasons brought steady growth in sales as well as diversity, season length and professionalism. In the coming season, TOG will work with over 25 producers to bring a projected 50,000 cases of produce from farm to city, offering locally grown, certified organic produce all 12 months of the year.

Key contacts: To be determined.

Liaison:
David Robb, General Manager, Tuscarora Organic Growers Co-op, HCR 71 Box 168-B, Hustontown, PA, 17229, Phone: 814-448-2173, Fax: 814-448-2333, david@tog.coop. Email: info@tog.coop