Lakewinds Organic Field Fund

Our community of shoppers, owners, and employees is committed to reflecting our co-op values by supporting the local farming community. As part of this mission, the Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) grant program was created in 2011. As the impact on local farms became clear and number of Lakewinds shoppers and owners grew, in 2015 the decision was made to increase both the number of grants funded and the amount of money dedicated to the program. Since the LOFF program’s inception, Lakewinds has now given over $1 million in grants to more than 100 farmers.

The goal of LOFF is to provide funding to farmers working on the development and sustainability of organics through:

• Financial support for the process of organic transition and earning organic certification.
• Improvement to packing sheds and other facilities.
• Purchase of equipment and tools.
• Purchases that increase farm productivity or efficiency.
• Projects that improve soil health.
• Other projects that benefit the farm.

We no longer provide LOFF grants to 501(c)3 or nonprofit organizations, which instead are supported through our Community Giving Round Up program.

“I don’t think we would be able to be where we are at without these hoop houses and without this compost. … It’s been a huge help to us, especially as beginning farmers. So knowing that there’s support coming from the community who believe in the work that we’re doing is so appreciated and so incredible.”

– Eleanor Babcock-Jensen, StrongHeart Farms