Snow's Bend Farm

Snow's Bend Farm is an 1,100-acre family-owned commercial farm located 10 miles west of Tuscaloosa in a bend of the Black Warrior River which supplies fresh produce to several area restaurants and markets.

Much of the farm's 1,100 acres is wooded or swampy. The area of richest "Tuscaloosa Choccolocco" soil is utilized for crops, as it was during height of the Native American Mississippian culture. Owners Margaret Ann Toohey and David Snow converted the farm from commercial corn, cotton and soybeans to "certified naturally grown" agriculture in 2004. That designation requires similar commitments to the USDA's "Organic" label, but is administered by a smaller non-profit group more tailored to small farms.

The operation began with a 1/4 acre planted in 2004 to between 5 and 6 acres in 2007. As many as 250 varieties of 50 different vegetables are grown, along with flowers. Future plans include orchards, beekeeping and livestock raising and an heirloom "seed keeping" garden.

In January 2007 Snow was approached about participating as a "local supplier" for Whole Foods' supermarket at Cahaba Village. A year later he filed suit claiming that the farm's name was used in Whole Foods' marketing, but that the company had never purchased any produce from him.

Locations

In addition to direct-to-customer sales through Snow Bend's "Community Supported Agriculture" program, their produce is supplied to the following locations:

• Manna Grocery & Deli, Tuscaloosa
• Pepper Place Market
• Highlands Bar & Grill
• Satterfield's
• Chez Fonfon
• Bottega
• GianMarco's
• Bettola

References

• Hubbard, Russell (January 16, 2008) "Tuscaloosa farmer sues Whole Foods over local supplier campaign." The Birmingham News

External links

• Snow's Bend Farm website