GRO-UP was formed in 1962, when the, now-defunct, Ramford Community Commune (RCC) incorporated to become the largest "alternative living space" in the nation. The community occupied over 17,000 acres of land and was in the not-for-profit business of animal husbandry,  forestry and organic farming.  In 1973,  peculiarities in behavior of certain individuals in the community and questionable policies threatened to have the not-for- profit group closed down.  At this time, the community decided to subdivide their "space" and sell to  independent farmers with the proviso that the purchaser maintain an organic farm. These smaller organic farms formed GRO-UP, when they decided that's what they had to do.  GRO - UP is one of the strongest lobby groups in the nation for organically grown foods.  

GRO-UP is also part of a regional Organic Farmers Co-Op (TRI-Organic) that represents a total of 47 other counties in the tri-state area.  GRO-UP and TRI-organic ship organic produce around the nation and to Europe, where there is concern about human consumption of genetically engineered vegetables.  This consortium of co-ops is the largest organic lobby group in the nation.