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U.P. Food Exchange Cold Storage Grant Recipients
We are excited to announce the recipients for the U.P. Food as Medicine Cold Storage Grant Program. Under this grant program produce farmers in the U.P. have applied for up to $14,000 for the installation of cold storage facilities on their farm. The grant also included access to technical assistance in the build-out and food safety. Spearheaded by the U.P. Food Exchange, the program has also been made possible thanks to the Upper Peninsula Commission on Area Progress (UPCAP), the U.P. Food as Medicine Collaborative Team, and generous funding from the Superior Health Foundation.
Western U.P.
- North Harvest CSA
- Minnie Farm
- Boersma Family Roots and CSA Farm
Central U.P.
- Full Plate Farm
- Snowy Acres Vegetable Farm
- UP Gourmet
Eastern U.P.
- Gordon's Produce
- Jere Farms
- Dutcher Farm
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Shared Ground Social
Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
Join the Delft Bistro to celebrate the 2022 growing season and the local farmers that make it possible. In collaboration with Barrel + Beam and the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market, the Delft Bistro is excited to bring you the Shared Ground Social. Enjoy an evening of local food, drink, and music. Meet your farmers and learn more about the local food community.
Ticket Purchase Eventbrite: Here
Marquette-area farmers, this event is to celebrate you! The community knows you are busy, but they all hope you can spare an evening to relax and enjoy the company of your neighbors and friends. Event tickets are free for farmers, and proceeds from this event will go to the Power of Produce youth program.
Farmer Registration: Here
Food by the Delft Bistro and [TBA] local farms
Brews by Barrel + Beam
Tunes by Joe Sayler and Strung Together
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U.P. Grower Letter
This letter provides information to Michigan growers about Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule inspections. Produce growers are asked to help the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in their efforts to prioritize their inspection resources. MDARD needs your help to determine which farms are eligible for PSR inspections. In general, a farm that grows, harvests, holds, or packs fresh produce is eligible for inspection. However, there are exemptions available depending on a farm’s sales and distribution. As MDARD is learning, many farms in the U.P. primarily sell their produce locally and through direct market channels, which may provide an exemption from inspection by MDARD. Click here to read the full letter.
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Tis the Season! Sign Up Today for an On-Farm Readiness Review
The On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) Program was developed to support growers in their efforts to comply with the laws of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. An OFRR will allow a fresh produce grower to walk around their own farm with a team of trained professionals to review their general production practices in reference to produce safety. This walk-through will help a grower gauge how ready they are for an inspection and also give them ideas about how to make inexpensive changes (if necessary) to meet the new food safety requirements. The On-Farm Readiness Review Program is a voluntary and confidential service, and best of all, it is at no cost to growers!
Request an OFRR here!
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Online Produce Safety Supervisor Training
Michigan State University Extension offers a course for farm supervisors as they navigate the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This course provides supervisors with information about the Produce Safety Rule and how to use relevant resources to support their farm's compliance with the rule. Learn More & Register Here.
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The Food Sovereignty Symposium & Festival, originally scheduled for September 2021, will be May 20-22, 2022 at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Northern Michigan University.
A limited number of in-person registrations are still available, and they are offering virtual registration as well.
Please note that Day 1 at KBIC, the final banquet on Day 3 with a menu developed by The Sioux Chef and NATIFS, and vendor booths are separate add-ons to the main registration. You may add them if you’ve already registered by clicking here. Click here for more information about the event.
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Successful Container Gardening from the Pot Up
Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:00p.m. in the George Shiras Room (PWPL)
The U.P. Master Gardener Association are excited to announce their upcoming U.P. Master Gardener Association presentation at Peter White Public Library. The guest speaker will be Linda Andriacchi. Please join them at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 21st. The presentation will be interesting, fun and educational. Everyone is welcome!
Linda Andriacchi, creator of the City of Ishpeming Hanging Baskets, will present "Successful Container Gardening from the Pot Up. Linda will talk about the proper soils and fertilizers to use depending on what you are growing. Also, she will suggest what type of container is best suited for certain plants and what plants are good for certain containers.
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Prescription for Health
UPPER PENINSULA, MI – The Upper Peninsula Food as Medicine team (UPFAM) is pleased to announce the start of a Prescription for Health program for eligible U.P residents. This program is designed to address and improve food security for low-income residents who have or are at risk of developing a chronic health condition.
Prescription for Health is run by the UPFAM team and the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) and is generously funded by the Superior Health Foundation. The program, operated through a referral system, includes participants 18 and older referred by participating health care practitioners and provides weekly vouchers which can be redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables at local farm markets. Additionally, nutrition education is available to program participants year-round, and provides an opportunity to earn produce vouchers. To read the full article or to see a list of participating markets, click here.
For more information, visit www.upcap.org/program/food-as-medicine/ or contact Tammy at 906-786-4701 or rosat@upcap.org.
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Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Seventh Edition
Authors: Jamie Rahrig, Rich Pirog, Rachel Kelly, Anel Guel, Nick McCann, Abigail Harper, Evan Kutz, Taylor Wimberg, Emily Kim
The latest edition of the Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses directory is now available from the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. Farmers, food producers, distributors, food hubs, other food-related businesses, and business assistance providers can use this resource to identify national and Michigan opportunities for financial support.
Funding sources are organized into four major categories:
- Crowdfunding
- Start-up accelerator
- Miscellaneous
- Michigan and federal government funding resources
The directory includes 77 sources of funding, as well as guidance for what kind of financing to seek and tips for getting funding. Click here for more information.
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Organic Vegetable On-Farm Weed Management Internship Invite
Do you struggle to control weeds efficiently in your organic vegetable crops? Are you interested in trying new cultural or mechanical approaches using borrowed equipment, while getting compensated for your time and effort?
Linked here is a call for participation in an MSU on-farm research/internship program focused on integrating cultural and mechanical strategies for improved weed control in organic vegetables. The Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) participated in this program last year, and had a great time trying new mechanical weed control tools in our carrots. A lot was learned about our system and what alternatives look like, all without having to invest in new equipment. If you attended MSU's Organic Vegetable Field Day last summer, you saw many of these tools in action. Here is your opportunity to take them home and put them to work!
Details on program participation and expectations are in the linked document. Organic certification is not required, but an organic approach to weed management is. If you would like to try this out, but are unsure about the research commitment, please reach out! UPREC staff can assist with your project, if you are located in the Central UP. Otherwise, please contact Dr. Dan Brainard (brainar9@msu.edu or 517-648-7928) directly to participate in this opportunity.
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Waishkey Bay Farm team is buzzing with excitement to announce our upcoming apiary/beekeeping education in partnership with Bee Wise Farms! To register you can contact Kat Jacques at kjaques@bmcc.edu or (906) 322-1864 or sign up for one or more events/offers here.
Full Day Second Year Beekeeping Workshop
Saturday, June 11th 10am-4pm* with lunch provided. Focused on skill building for beekeepers with some experience looking to learn more. Free and open to all.
Season Long Beginning Beekeeper's Course
Sign up and get started watching May video recordings! Please note that they are not able to provide hive starter kits this year. Full course description here. Limited number of protective beekeeping suits and gloves available for use at Waishkey Bay Farm - please contact them in advance if requesting to confirm beekeeping suit availability.
Videos and written materials are available for Sault Tribe members across and beyond the seven county service area who are not able to join the monthly hands-on sessions!
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USDA Grant Opportunities
Other Grant Opportunities
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Does your farm need help this summer? Do you offer employment, internships, or volunteering? Let UPFE know and we’ll spread the word for you. Contact Eli at localfood@marquettefood.coop or 906-225-0671 x 726 to be included in the Plowshare classifieds and/or have your contact information shared with folks inquiring about opportunities.
FOR SALE: Red Angus Bulls, 2 and 3 year olds, forage fed, asking $3,000 each. For more information contact Ty Hughston, 231-468-7131, MSU Lake City Research Center.
FOR SALE: Hay, 5x6 round bales legume grass hay, stored inside. Call Jon and Donna Ahlberg, Iron River (906)265-9333.
WANTED: Pasture for 25-35 cow calf pairs for the summer of 2022 in the Eastern UP. Will consider a custom grazing arrangement as well. Call Ben at (989)370-3570.
Looking for animals to custom graze on 120 acres. Henry Miller 2351 W 6 Mile Rd, Sault Ste Marie, 49783
FOR SALE: High moisture corn, approximately 5,000 bushels in harvester already rolled. $8/per 100; $160/ton. (906)424- 0225.
FOR SALE: Simmental Bulls, mature and young, registered and non-registered. Call Duane Kolpack (906) 362-6862.
FOR SALE: Hay, large square bales 3x3x7.75 Timothy grass, 4,000 to sell. Former dairy farm doing all big square bales hay. Call Dave Bell in the EUP 906-440-6455 or email Bellsdairy@yahoo.com. Also a realtor in the UP so contact me for real estate here. Dave@smith-company.com
Have something to list? Email your listing to ehopp@marquettefood.coop and Eli will add it to the next edition!
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5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Farmers Market Trip
By Emily Row the Content Creator at Taste the Local Difference
There’s nothing quite like a brisk morning at a Michigan farmers market among fellow locavores to start your weekend off right. Once you’ve found your local farmers market in our digital directory, follow these tips for a breezy and bountiful market experience. Click here to read more.
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Spring Watchlist: Strawberries, Rhubarb, Asparagus
By Claire Butler the Communications & Outreach Specialist for Taste the Local Difference
Farmers across Michigan talk about their first Spring and early Summer harvests, from rhubarb to asparagus, and strawberries. Click here to read the full article.
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More to read...
Check out the U.P. Food Exchange's website here.
Check out the UPFE Online Marketplace for institutional purchasers here.
Check out Michigan's Conservation Districts website here.
Check out the Western U.P. Food System Council's website here.
Check out the Michigan's On-Farm Produce Safety website here.
Check out the Taste the Local Difference newsletter here.
Check out the MSU UP Research & Extension Center monthly newsletter here.
Check out Marquette Food Co-op's newsletter here.
Regional Email Listserv for Western UP Growers and Food Provisioners
This is a peer-to-peer listserv open to posts about to all things about growing and sharing food in our region. More information about it can be found here.
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