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Food Producers - Opportunities - Grant Opportunities - Classifieds - Culture
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NMU & MSU Mending the Stress Fence
September 9th, 3:00-5:00pm
Click here to learn more about the event!
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The Case for Informal Worker Training
By Phil Tocco, Michigan State University Extension
The FSMA Produce Safety Rule talks about training as a formal process that needs to happen on every farm every year. Getting produce safety training once a year, though, doesn’t always send the right message about how important produce safety is to the grower. Informal “training” does a much better job of reminding everyone what the right thing to do is. This article outlines two resources from the Michigan On-farm Produce Safety Team that can help with these informal trainings. Click here to read more.
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Farm Worker Training Policies
By Landen Tetil, Produce Safety Technician Marquette County Conservation District
All farm workers must be trained on farm policies, produce safety policies, and job-specific duties at least once annually. This template for farm worker training will help make sure your farm's training program checks all the boxes for the Produce Safety Rule. Inside, find information on who needs to receive training, in-depth details on important training topics, and a sample record-keeping document to keep you organized. View template here.
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Manoomin Camp is Back!
While registration is not required, it is recommended to assist with planning purposes (food, supplies, etc.).
Registration: https://forms.gle/U2i4vEcxp1TbmK2e6
Questions? Contact Erin Johnston at ejohnston@kbic-nsn.gov or 906-524-5757 ext. 4227
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What I've Learned About Gardening in the U.P. Over the Past 54 Years - Norm Hefke
Saturday, September 10th, 2022, 1:00 p.m. George Shiras Room (2nd Floor PWPL)
On Saturday, September 10th, Norm will give a presentation that reflects what he has learned about vegetable and flower gardening in the U.P. over the past 54 years including:
- What has worked well for him and what hasn’t
- Site selection considerations
- When to plant
- How to select seeds
- How to maximize your harvest
- And much more...
Bring your questions for Norm!
For more information on this presentation contact:
Ron Rossway rrossway@upmga.com 906-226-7354
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Partridge Creek Farm Produce Survey
If you are an Ishpeming resident or shop in Ishpeming, please take the Partridge Creek Intergenerational Farm Crop Plan Survey! They are looking for your input on what crops should be grown at their new farm location. They will be growing 1 acre of vegetables and a 1/4 acre of fruit. Please share with them what vegetables and fruits you like to eat, and how you like to purchase them.
Survey Link: PCF Survey
If you have additional questions or would like more information, please contact their farm manager Allison Stawara, at (906) 376-4171 or allison@partridgecreekfarm.org. If you would like to support future growth of this farm or to volunteer, please contact their director May Tsupros, at (906) 376-4171 or may@partridgecreekfarm.org
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2021 National Farm to ECE Survey Results Now Available
The National Farm to School Network (NFSN), in partnership with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), is pleased to begin sharing information from the 2021 National Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Survey.
The first set of briefs is now available:
- Survey fact sheet
- Survey infographic
- Sharing toolkit
The full set of briefs will summarize findings from a nationwide survey of more than 2,900 providers in 26 states and Washington, D.C. who shared about the benefits and challenges of connecting young children to healthy, local foods, gardening, and food and agriculture education through farm to ECE. The findings help us to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to ECE activities in early care and education settings.
All forthcoming briefs will be available on the NFSN website.
For more information, contact Meagan Shedd at mshedd@msu.edu.
Learn more about the National Farm to School Network at farmtoschool.org.
Find out more about Farm to ECE in Michigan at foodsystems.msu.edu/michigan-farm-to-ece
Funding for this resource comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
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Breaking Down Barriers: Helping Underserved Farmers Expand their Marketing Channels
What is a specialty crop producer? At first, it might sound like farmers who grow heirloom varieties of apples or wineries with a niche for beaujolais. But, according to the USDA, most agricultural products that are not animal products or grain, fiber, and oil field crops are considered specialty crops. This broad definition includes, but is not limited to food producers, plant nurseries, and Christmas tree farms.
The good news is that this wide range of producers are eligible for funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Specialty Crop Block Grant to enhance the access and competitiveness of these businesses. These funds can be used on projects that benefit the individual producer, as well as others in the area. For example, a single grower could use funds to extend their growing season with high tunnels (hoop houses) and then host a farm tour to promote this method to other producers. Though the request for proposals for this grant closed in February 2022, it will open in early 2023. Click here to read more.
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Innovative Farming Grants Designed to Address Challenges Facing Rural Michigan
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is now accepting applications for a new Farm Innovation Grant Program. These grants are designed to help develop and support innovative solutions to real, immediate, and future problems facing Michigan’s food and agricultural industry. Read the full press release. The maximum grant award eligible is $200,000 per proposal. Applicants will be asked to outline how the project will impact and produce measurable innovation outcomes for Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. MDARD is seeking proposals to develop innovative solutions for farm, agriculture processing, and supply chain problems facing the state’s food and agricultural industry in the following priority areas:
- Climate Smart Practices
- Supply Chain Resiliency
- Food Processing and Farm Production Automation
- Rural Resiliency
- Other project ideas related to the grant will be considered
Those interested in applying should visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the application and grant guidelines. Other communications concerning this Request for Proposals should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Proposals must be received via email no later than 3:00 p.m. (EST) on October 27, 2022.
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MDARD Announces One-Time Grant Opportunity to Support Michigan Seafood Processors
LANSING, MI—The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is seeking applications for the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant program to support the state’s seafood processing sector. Funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, this program provides relief and assistance to eligible seafood processing facilities and processing vessels in response to the ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The grants will provide cost reimbursement for eligible expenditures that occurred between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Click here to read more.
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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: Black Wagyu Bulls, forage fed. For more information contact Paul Naasz, MSU UPREC, Chatham (906)439-5114 Ext 2.
FOR SALE: Hay, 5x6 round bales legume grass hay, stored inside. Call Jon and Donna Ahlberg, Iron River (906)265-9333.
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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Fresh Food Connections: Using Food Assistance Benefits Online
By Emma Beauchamp the Editor in Chief of Taste the Local Difference
Do you do your grocery shopping online?
According to Coresight’s “U.S. Online Grocery Survey 2022” report, 54.3% of U.S. adults had purchased groceries online in the past 12 months. This number peaked at 59% in 2021, almost doubling pre-pandemic rates.
Ordering groceries online is convenient and improves access for folks who may have challenges getting to, and navigating, a grocery store. However, there are a few drawbacks to this: 1) shoppers don’t get the satisfaction of picking out the perfectly ripe avocados or grabbing items on a whim and 2) most grocery stores don’t allow users to pre-order online using their food assistance benefits, like SNAP. To read more click here.
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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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