HISTORY

The Meadville Area Local Growers is a collaborative of approximately two dozen producers from Meadville, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio. This diverse, dynamic group of farmers produces a variety of foodstuffs, ranging from fruits, vegetables, and herbs, to eggs, meat and poultry, to baked goods, cut flowers and potted plants. MALG, formed in March 2004, sells its products at the historic Meadville Market House, located between the Meadville Art Gallery and the newly renovated Kepler Hotel in downtown Meadville. The market season is from May 1 to November 1, Wednesdays 3pm to 7pm and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.

MALG's roots date back to an environmental science senior project completed by Deserae Pegg (Allegheny College Class of 2003). Dez's research connected producers in western Pennsylvania with Allegheny College faculty, administrators, and students, who went on to plan the inaugural Allegheny College Local Foods Dinner, held in Brooks Dining Hall on September 24, 2003. The dinner was a roaring success, serving over 860 satisfied diners. In November, producers and College partners, now Local Food Networks, met with representatives of the Keystone Development Center, USDA Rural Development, and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture to discuss the possibility of forming a growers' cooperative.

The seeds were sown for the birth of MALG. Grower-participants at subsequent cooperative development meetings recognized the potential benefits of working together informally as a collaborative in this, their first growing season, in hopes of laying the foundation for a strong cooperative in the years to come. An emerging core group of farmers built bridges with the Meadville Market House and the French Creek Project and called a meeting for all interested area farmers on March 24, 2004. More than twenty producers went on to pledge their commitment to forming a collaborative, which they named the Meadville Area Local Growers.

In September, 2004 and 2005, MALG successfully completed the second and third annual local foods dinners. In Spring, 2005, MALG secured a new Market at the Market House for second year. Year-round vending will take place going forward. In June, 2005, management of the Market House was transferred to French Creek Project. July 30, 2005, MALG hosted Kid's Day, with balloon animals, face painting, plant your own veggie, and more.

MALG's mission is to provide wholesome, local foods to the community through the support of regional growers, and to assure producers a direct market for their goods.

MALG is looking for new members. Producers in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio who are interested in joining MALG should contact John Clendenin at (814) 694-3006 for more information.