NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 7
2015 Report to the community
FFN: Six Years and Counting
Network born out of
2009 farming summit
By Diane Conners
Michigan Land Use Institute
The Northwest Michigan Food
& Farming Network was born out
of a 2009 Farm Route to Prosperity Summit organized by economic
development and business groups,
farmers and farm groups, nonprofit
local food policy advocates, land
conservancies, job training organizations, health professionals, community garden supporters, school food
service directors, and many others.
The purpose of the summit was
to determine how the region’s food
and farm interests should follow
up on the Grand Vision, a 50-year
planning process that called for
strong farms, healthy people, and
abundant, fruitful farmland. Six
years later, the Food & Farming
Network continues as it was founded—not as an organization, but as a
structure through which many organizations and individuals can meet
and make progress together.
Here is a sampling of ways partners have worked toward the network’s goal that by 2020, the region’s
food and farming systems are more
resilient and provide at least 20% of
our region’s food:
Infrastructure development: The
Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance
was born out of the infrastructure
committee of the network and is
working with small to mid-size
HELP
S E T N O RT H W E S T
MICHIGAN’S
F O O D A N D FA R M L A N D C O U R S E !
Northwest Michigan’s 50-year Grand Vision calls for strong farms,
healthy people, and abundant, fruitful farmland. Now it’s time for you to weigh in on
how we accomplish this Grand food-and-farming Vision.
PLEASE JOIN US
FOR THE
FIRST ANNUAL FARM ROUTE
TO
PROSPERITY
SUMMIT!
T U E S D Route B U A RY 2 4 2 0 0 9
The invitation to the 2009 FarmAY , F EtoRProsperity ,Summit called for people to
Center Pointe, 12935 S. West course!”
“set northwest Michigan’s food and farmlandBay Shore Drive
Directions and parking information on back.
growers, Cherry Capital Foods, the to food safety certifications called the
10 a.m. 4 p.m.
Safe Food Risk Assessment; adGoodwill Farm to Freezer project
The summit starts promptly at 10 a.m. Arrive as early as 9 a.m. for snacks and getting settled.
vanced farmer residency programs;
and others to includes a local-food box lunch. No charge, but $10 per box lunch requested, day of the event.
provide space for proThe day
supported seed-saving and rootstock
cessing and distribution in a Food
efforts as plan Farm Route to Prosperity.
Hub building; and to foster and have joined togetheratoway to preserve biodiLeading business and community organizations
Their infrastructure results
versity; the in area conservancies,
connect othermission is to work theproj- of this summit intoandregional Grand Vision
implementation process. The partners are committed to holding Farm Route to Prosperity voices
developed numerous land protection
ects. The network also served in an
and ideas together over the coming years so that the Grand Vision reflects and invests in them.
measures. Partners also worked with
advisory capacity for the expanded
FARM ROUTE TO PROSPERITY WILL BRING
development of G I O N A theOLocalNDif- R M the D E R S T OTraverse T O : Area EcoTaste L F O D A D F A L E A Grand G E T H E R Bay
RE
ference® as a key component of mar- nomic Development Corporation
Reach a common, over-arching goal and set of objectives (see back page).
as it created the 2020 Fund, which
keting infrastructure for local food.
Identify and The network for its
them.
Food access:prioritize strategiesandachieving provides bridge loans to farmers and
entrepreneurs.
Decide youth committee suphealth and next steps for connecting and advancing our work on the Farm Route to Prosperity.
Community identity: The Traported a 2010 Farm to School ConP A RT I C I P AT I O N F R O M A C R O S S O U R R E G I O N A L F O O D A N D F A R M C O M M U N I T Y I S N E E D E D .
verse City Area Chamber of Comference; provided TLD farm guides
Invitations are out to: Farmers and food
merce challenged its members to
to low-income families via health producers Retail and institutional food buyers
Processors and distributors Youth and community groups Health and employment advocates
request that caterers source at least
department and hospital programs;
Business and government leaders Farm and land conservationists Finance and funding experts
20% of their food locally for any
launched Cooking with Kids at the
We hope you can attend, and please spread the word to others who should!
Northwestern Michigan Fair to pro- meeting or event that they host.
Munson Medical Center was a lead
vide families with a fun and affordSpace is limited. Please RSVP by February 21 to Judy Cunningham
able way to learn kid-friendly recipes host for Food, Farms & Health, and
at the Michigan Land
is committed or 231-941-6584.
using local produce; raised Use Institute: [email protected] to continued involvefunds
ment. Schools have embraced farm
to bring Double Up Food Bucks to
to school programming, and the Trathe region; and held Food, Farms
verse Bay Area Intermediate School
& Health, a 2014 event showcasing
District is working to be a central
ways to use local food to advance
resource. TLD is being adopted by
individual and community health.
area retailers and other businesses as
Farmer resources: Partners have
collaborated in “Get Farming, Keep a branding tool to promote and sell
local products.
Farming” workshops; promoted
www.foodandfarmingnetwork.org
voluntary, small-farm appropriate
2