It’s interesting how much respect Sleeping Frog Farms has earned in a few short years. A construction worker mentioned his admiration for the farm yesterday. A week earlier a sommelier was going off about the work ethic of the people who run the operation, and a month before that a chef at a well-known restaurant was offering equally high praise.

Food Conspiracy Co-op at 412 N. Fourth Ave. seems equally impressed with the farm, and is investing a nice chunk of cash that could help the farm increase how much it produces each season.

Coley Ward, who handles marketing for the co-op, says the store made an initial $5,000 investment in the farm some time ago, which bought them weekly deliveries of the farm’s incredible produce. The farm had a year to pay back that commitment. They did it in seven months.

The store's board of directors was impressed with both that return and the farm in general, so much so that they decided to make another investment of $25,000. Sleeping Frog Farms has three years to pay that back, but there is a general feeling that it will take them far less than that.

If you’ve met Adam Valdivia, C.J. Marks, Debbie Weingarten and the other fine folks who comprise the farm, this news will bring a smile to your face. They are honest, hardworking farmers who love what they do and it shows in the vibrant and delicious vegetables they produce.

The other great thing about this new commitment is that Sleeping Frog Farms can use the money to increase its operational scope, which means more vegetables for a lot more people than just those who shop at the co-op.