Special guest for the July Luncheon was Kevin Moore, representing Grow Montana. Kevin also works with AERO, Alternature Energy Resource Organization, and volunteered for FoodCorp in Dillon where he helped UM Western buy more Montana-grown foods. The goal of Grow Montana is to help rebuild Montana’s food independence. According to Kevin Moore, 70 years ago more than 70% of Montana’s food was grown in Montana. That figure has now fallen to 10%. Montana is lacking small scale and independent food processing. Value added food in Montana, i.e. foods processed here, is much lower than surrounding states. In 2004, South Dakota’s value added food expenditure was 90%, Idaho’s was 80% and Montana’s was only 10%. In Montana there are great distances between markets, said Kevin Moore, but this is also true in surrounding states. An unfriendly business climate is also a factor. Grow Montana offers information, research, internet resources, networking lists, conference calls, projects and events attempting to grow Montana’s food businesses.