The Middlebury College Organic Garden (MCOG) is a student organization that maintains a 3-acre plot of fruits and vegetables. The produce we grow reflects a balance between efficient, profitable crops and more labor intensive, less productive crops grown for educational purposes. While planting rows of lettuce for Atwater Dining Hall or contemplating coursework in our outdoor classroom, we not only come to understand the problems with industrial agriculture, but also explore and help develop local, organic solutions. Middlebury also incorporates organic products on an ongoing basis into the campus cuisine. Dining Services works directly with farmers and local produce distributors to increase the amount of local produce used in the dining halls, recognizing the potential income they can offer farmers by steering more of the College's annual produce purchases toward local growers. They also work with the Middlebury College Organic Garden to purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables. Locally grown and in-season fruits and vegetables, maple syrup and local dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream are regularly provided in the dining halls.