On the ladder of Montana food processors, small private enterprises are the first rung, and community-based facilities like Mission Mountain are on the second step. The difference is that on the second tier, the “business model is as much about building community as it is about building a strong business,” said food systems analyst Ken Meter.

Higher up the ladder are mid-size processors like Montana Gluten Free, Timeless Seeds and Montana Flour and Grain, which export the majority of their products to national and international markets.