The Americana Foundation has provided a grant to food systems experts John Fisk, Kristine Ranger and Steve Wright with support from United Way of Northeast Michigan to strengthen the regional food system in Northeast Michigan by creating new distribution channels and increasing capacity of the region’s small-to mid-sized farmers.
Activities will include eight weekly pop-up farmers markets at senior centers providing a point-of-sale for farmers to local and regionally produced foods directly to consumers. The team will pilot a wholesale distribution network to aggregate, distribute and market local and regionally produced products into the dining halls of schools and senior centers in the region.
They will also sponsor an “Institutional Marketplace” gathering (with MSU Extension) enabling farmers, growers and potential food service customers to discuss their respective needs and offerings.
Michigan has been a national leader in direct and wholesale market development for Michigan farmers, but Northeast Michigan has not experienced the same level of success in creating local and regional markets as other parts of the state.
The nine counties of Northeast Michigan along Lake Huron are very rural, with long distances between towns and cities and has a comparatively small and aging population.
The region is classified as a low socioeconomic status region with public school free/reduced lunch rates among the highest in the state. Northeast Michigan features more than 2,200 farms, with 68% considered small farms with sales under $10,000 annually.
Many farmers in the region lack the capacity to meet the needs of local and regional markets, develop new market channels. Or distribute directly to regional organizations and agencies.
Source: thealpenanews.com
Categories: Michigan, Business, Rural Lifestyle