COLD STORAGE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR U.P. FARMERS
The U.P. Food Exchange, in partnership with Upper Peninsula Food as Medicine Team and Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress, is excited to announce a grant opportunity for area farms to build cold storage facilities for storing fresh produce.

The grant program, funded by the Superior Health Foundation, will award up to $14,000 to one farm from each of the U.P.’s three regional planning districts. Funds can be used for the materials and labor to build new or additional facilities, as well as access to technical assistance for construction and food safety training. This funding will support the increase of local food production by ensuring that farms have a place to safely store produce until it can be sold.

“Farm debt is a huge problem across the country. Even small-scale farming requires taking on a high amount of debt that is difficult to pay back, especially with an income that varies seasonally,” said Sarah Monte, outreach director at the Marquette Food Co-op and UPFE member. “UPFE is thrilled to be working on a project that helps minimize or remove a financial barrier for our area farms. All of us in the community benefit when local farms succeed.”

Adequate cold storage facilities are essential for farms to be able to expand their operations. Without cold storage, harvesting must be done hours before the delivery, limiting the farm’s ability to take on more accounts or attend more farmers markets. The facilities also extend the agricultural sales season by providing space for keeping storage crops that can be sold well into the winter, directly supporting the growth of the U.P. farm economy and increasing access to local food for all residents.

“Currently, 1 in 7 individuals or approximately 14 percent of U.P. residents are food insecure. With the national average at 10.5 percent, the local numbers are significant,” said Tammy Rosa, nutrition program manager at UPCAP. “UPCAP participates in many community initiatives throughout the region and is very excited to be a part of this collaboration of partners working to improve the food security of residents with economic barriers, while building a stronger regional food system.”

• Applications open January 31, 2023
• Application Deadline is March 1, 2023 at 5pm
• Awards Announced March 15, 2023
• Project Completion Deadline is September 30, 2023

To learn more and to access the grant application, visit upfoodexchange.com/cold-storage-grant-program. Questions can be directed to info@upfoodexchange.com or 906-225-0671 x723.

This grant is tied to the U.P. Prescription for Health program, in which physicians “prescribe” fresh produce vouchers to individuals at risk or diagnosed with a chronic health condition that are also experiencing economic barriers to purchasing food. To learn more about Prescription for Health, visit http://upcap.org/program/food-as-medicine

Now that you understand what Ag Water is, it is time to develop an action plan to implement the new requirements. First, are you using Ag Water? If you’re unsure, revisit the graphic above, or contact your local Produce Safety Technician.

If you are not using Ag Water - you do not need to make any changes.

If you are using Ag Water - do not panic, focus on having safe water for contact with produce or food contact surfaces. You just want to be able to answer the question: “How do you know that your water is safe to use?” One option for evaluating whether your water is safe for use on food and food contact surfaces is testing. If you already test and record your water regularly, continue your current practices. 

If you do not test and record your Ag Water regularly, it is very easy to begin. Many resources exist that will clearly explain where to go, what tests to ask for, and how to go about the process. Check out this Michigan State University article for more information or sign up for the 45 minute Agricultural Water Testing Short Course offered by MSU ($12.50). 

The new Ag Water rule is intended to give you flexibility in determining that your water is safe to use. Testing is not always required, so contact your local Produce Safety Technician for personalized recommendations pertaining to your farm.

• February 14, 2:00-4:00 PM, Waishkey Bay Farm
• February 15, 9:00-11:00 AM, Northern Initiatives Marquette
• February 15, 1:30-3:30 PM, MSUE Houghton County

This two-week-long educational experience features tracks focused on animal agriculture, crop production, fruit and vegetable production, irrigation and drainage, farm business management, farm-to-school, and the environment. Sessions will be held using the Zoom platform. More detailed information can be found on the MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference website, with more information being added regularly. Visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/miagideas/ to register.

February 27 - March 10, 2023 Online Via Zoom

Session tracks will focus on:

Animal Agriculture
Daily at 6 p.m. from February 27-March 2 and March 6 - 9

Community Food Systems
Thursday and Fridays at Noon, March 2, 3, 9, 10

Environmental
Daily at 2 p.m. from March 6-10

Farm Business Management for Beginners
Wednesdays at 10 a.m., March 1 and 8 March 1 at 11 a.m.

Farm Stress and Well Being
March 8 at 11 a.m.

Field Crops
February 28 from 8 a.m. to Noon

Fruit
Daily at Noon from February 27-March 2

Preserving MI Harvest
February 28 at 6 p.m. March 3 at Noon March 9 at Noon

Vegetable
Daily at 9 a.m. from March 6-10

Water Day: Managing Irrigation and Water
February 27 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m

• Session 1 (Feb. 22): Engaging Policymakers and Messaging 101
• Session 2 (Mar. 1): Messaging in Action
• Session 3 (Mar. 15): Office Hours, separate registration coming soon

This presentation will cover the background on wildlife damage in Michigan, provide tips on identifying and diagnosing wildlife damage, a review of wildlife damage management strategies available to gardeners, and highlight education resources available for addition information.

Questions will be encouraged.

For more information on this presentation contact: Cathy Starrett cstarrett@upmga.com 906-362-2849

Although much of the UP can be considered rural, the extreme weather conditions are anything but isolating, as folks, like bees, band together to survive hazardous winters. Your typical “yooper” won’t hesitate to pull your car out of a snow drift or give you the very shirt off their backs to help out, and it is no different within the beekeeping community. Click here to read more.