Community Food and Agriculture Coalition

• Biga Pizza
  241 West Main St.
  728-2579

• Big Dipper Ice Cream
  631 South Higgins Ave.
  543-5722

• Catalyst Cafe & Espresso
  111 North Higgins Ave.
  542-1337

• Pearl Cafe and Bakery
  231 East Front Street
  541-0231

• Red Bird
  111 N. Higgins Suite 100
  549-2906

• Scotty's Table*
  529 South Higgins Ave.
  549-2790
  *Not open on May 2.
  Grand opening of new location in the Wilma building, May 4th.

Buy Fresh Buy Local Farm to Restaurant Collaborative works to reintroduce Missoula diners to their food. We aim to connect people back to the system that grows our food - the seed, the land, the farmer or rancher and the routes that deliver it to us. This project helps create new connections.

The first Friday of each month, beginning in May, 2007, participating downtown restaurants serve local food on their menu. In addition, patrons can learn about what farm or ranch produced the food, and about the local food movement in Missoula. Look for the logo at these participating restaurants: The Catalyst, The Red Bird, Biga Pizza, The Pearl, Scotty's Table, Finn & Porter, and others!

Some of the specific advantages of eating locally:

• Connections grow between producers and consumers
• Energy costs are reduced
• Money circulates within the local economy
• Food is of higher quality with fewer additives, hormones or pesticides
• People are better informed about how their food is grown
• Farmland is preserved and used both now and into the future

As part of this effort, the restaurateurs are pledging to: Celebrate local and seasonal foods; Purchase from western Montana growers and producers; Build awareness of the Missoula food system by educating diners, patrons and consumers; Network with other local restaurants/ brewers/winemakers/stores and with western Montana food producers to develop our food system community and sustainable local economy; and Actively support Missoula's Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, its goals, efforts and events.