Patchwork was formed in 1992 in response to increased corporate control of farming in Missouri and the subsequent loss of family farmers in the state.
Patchwork offers farmers and consumers a choice.
Farmers are asked to serve on the project's steering committee and to adhere to standards that ensure that neither the animals nor the environment is exploited. Hogs are raised without growth hormones or antibiotics. They are given room to roam around, plenty of sunshine, fresh air and quality feed. These practices are in sharp contrast to corporate farms where hogs are packed closely in tight-fitting metal cages and shot up with antibiotics and other drugs routinely. Alice Recker, the new project coordinator, has given Patchwork a major boost.