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Michigan pilot works to increase local food purchases and farm partnerships

Four Michigan institutions are evaluating how they can buy more local food and strengthen partnerships with farmers and suppliers.

Melanie Tran is the Michigan impact manager at the Center for Good Food Purchasing.

“The idea is really simple, and it is to help Michigan institutions connect with local farmers, producers and distributors to get fresher, better food into the communities that they serve and support market demand for Michigan-grown and produced products,” she says.

Bendle Public Schools, Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency, Corewell Health and Dearborn Public Schools have received more than $650,000 combined through the Good Food for Michigan Project.

“We will be taking a look at all of their food purchasing data for a baseline assessment from the past year’s purchases.”

“They’ll also be receiving some of those incentive dollars to make investments,” she says.

During a recent webinar, Tran introduced collaborators to the initiative and encouraged farmers and suppliers interested in expanding to participate.  

The project is supported by a partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center for Good Food Purchasing and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems.