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Food Producers - Opportunities - Grant Opportunities - Classifieds - Culture
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Explore 70+ Funding Opportunities for Food-Related Businesses
Learn how to jumpstart your business with resources in the latest edition of the Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses directory. This updated resource from MSU Center for Regional Food Systems identifies national and statewide opportunities for financial support for Michigan farmers, food producers, distributors, food hubs, other food-related businesses, and business assistance providers. The directory includes 74 sources of funding, guidance for what kind of financing to seek, and tips for getting funding.
Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses: Eighth Edition
For more information, contact Jamie Rahrig at rahrigj@msu.edu.
Funding for this resource has come from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
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Friday Farm Skill Share!
Apple Acres Farm, 46797 Lahti Rd, Houghton, MI 49931
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Michigan Farm To Family: CSA
Michigan Fitness Foundation presents Michigan Farm to Family: CSA, an innovative program that brings fresh food to Michigan families from local CSA farmers. MF2FCSA is made possible through a $500,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). Along with MFF’s SNAP-Ed team and partner nutrition educators, MFF seeks Michigan CSA farmers, non-profit community organizations, and grant match funding partners to create up to 17 partnerships in eight communities over the next four years to deliver the MF2FCSA program. Click here to learn more.
Local Farm to Family CSA's
Dukes Farm, Skandia
Lakeshore Depot, Marquette
Partridge Creek Farm, Ishpeming
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Accepting CSA Members for 2023 Season
Seeds and Spores Family Farm is accepting CSA members for the 2023 season. Custom sides of exclusively grass fed beef and pasture raised, organically fed pork are also available. The order form can be downloaded from seedsandspores.com, requested via email seedsandspores@gmail.com, or found at their booth at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market or downloaded here.
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Salad Box Subscription
Receive weekly salad kits containing a variety of freshly picked vegetables from Partridge Creek Farm. Click here for more information.
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The planning team consisting of members from the Michigan Aquaculture Association and Michigan Fish Producers Association would like to invite you to attend the Mi Fresh Fish Expo to support educating Michiganders about Mi Fresh Fish on Tuesday, June 13 from 10am-3pm on Michigan’s Capitol Lawn! Come meet your Michigan fish farmers and commercial fishermen. See how easy it is to cook fish, enjoy some fish tales, and learn more about Mi Fresh Fish!
The goal of this event is to educate and bring awareness that commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing industries exist in Michigan, and aim to be recognized as not just as businesses, but as neighbors. Want to learn more right now? Check out these videos showcasing Michigan’s fish producers on the Mi Fresh Fish website!
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MSU-UPREC Forage Field Day
Tuesday, June 13th, 2023. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
MSU-UPREC E3774 University Drive Chatham, MI 49816
Join MSU experts and fellow farmers to view plots of alfalfa and grass while learning about forage research and management practices. Click here for the event flyer. Call 906-439-5114 to register.
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Join Taste the Local Difference for a Virual Book Talk!
Tuesday June 20th, 6:00pm
Join them as they check in with Michigan cookbook author and chef at Granor Farm, Abra Berens, to discuss seasonal fruits and great ways to celebrate them! Her newest book, Pulp, was released in April. Grab a bowl of strawberries and all your cooking questions for this virtual community discussion. RSVP for the link here.
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Findings from the 2021 National Food Hub Survey
| With over 100 responses from across the country, the survey aims to increase understanding of food hub operational models and their financial viability, the impact food hubs have in their community, and the trends and changes within the food hub sector. Click here to read the key findings. |
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Farm to Food Assistance Learning Lab Application Announcement!
Applications are now OPEN through July 10th for the Farm to Food Assistance Learning Lab! This 12-month lab will support eight organizations with financial and technical assistance to strengthen their farm to food assistance programs.
Are you paying farmers a fair price for their product while channeling those products into food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger efforts? Are you looking for the support and expertise to help you take your programs to the next level? Then the F2FA Learning Lab might be for you!
Visit this page to learn more and apply!
The Food Systems Leadership Network will be hosting an informational call on June 6th at 4pm ET/1pm PT to share a little more about the Learning Lab and answer your questions. You can register here.
Teams will receive:
- Peer connection: a community of people doing similar work in a confidential, supportive space
- Financial assistance: $20k to strengthen and advance your farm to food assistance (F2FA) efforts
- Technical assistance: dedicated advisors and monthly group calls to increase organizations’ knowledge and capacity for design, collaboration, and implementation of F2FA projects
- In Person Retreat: facilitated connections designed to help program participants expand their network and deepen their connections and commitment to strengthening F2FA programs
Applications are open through 5pm PT on Monday July 10th. Each organization will be represented by a lead applicant and their partners. Visit this page to learn more and apply!
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USDA Grant Opportunities
Other Grant Opportunities
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Summer Job Openings
Ever wanted to work on a farm, or at a booth during the farmers market? Here's your chance! The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market vendors are gearing up for the busy season and need your help.
Summary of job openings:
Case Country Farms - Saturday Market Helper
Full Plate Farm - Farm Crew Member
Tonella Farms - Assistant Farm Manager
UP Gourmet Mushrooms - Harvesting, Packing, and Farmers Market Helpers.
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Join the team!
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems seeks a Communications Manager to amplify messaging for the highly collaborative food systems work that CRFS engages in statewide, regionally, and nationally.
This position will engage all CRFS outreach specialists, including the principal investigators of grant-funded projects, to strengthen and maintain outreach strategies and partnerships. In this role, the Communications Manager will support the publication process, coordinate communications strategies across social media and email, and craft content for our website.
This position is an opportunity for a self-motivated, outreach-minded, resourceful, and committed candidate to build on to an existing strong foundation of food systems partnerships, programs, and research. We invite you to bring your creative vision to support and shape CRFS’s work and reputation into the future!
Find the full position description on our website and on the MSU Careers Portal (posting #867415).
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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 ehopp@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.
WANTED: Pasture for 25-35 cow calf pairs for the summer of 2023 in the Eastern UP. Will consider a custom grazing arrangement as well. Call Ben at (989)370-3570.
FOR SALE: Mixed Grass Hay in Escanaba, 4x5 bales. Call Bill Johnson 906-630-4945 or 906-786-4878.
FOR SALE: Hay, mixed round bales, 700#, stored inside. Also small square bales of straw. Call Jim 906-280-1649 or 906-4662672.
FOR SALE: small square bales of straw and 2nd & 3rd crop hay bales. Call Marenger Potato Farm 906-384-6587.
FOR SALE: 1st crop alfalfa baleage. Call Jim Dalgord at (906) 644-2107.
FOR SALE: Mixed Hay round bales, 700#. Call Alan or Karen (906) 647-6697, Pickford.
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.
Have something to list? Email your listing to ehopp@marquettefood.coop and Eli will add it to the next edition!
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Fathers in the Local Food System
By Neil Davey, West x Southwest Michigan Local Food Coordinator for Taste the Local Difference
A father’s role extends beyond providing love for his children; it encompasses shaping their values and instilling lifelong lessons. One of the most critical teachings a father can impart is the significance of quality food. Through guidance and example, a father can show his children the importance of nourishing their bodies with wholesome and nutritious meals. Click here to read more.
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From the Ground Draws Crowd to Houghton
By Garrett Neese, Staff writer for The Daily Mining Gazette
HOUGHTON — Hundreds of people came to Houghton’s new downtown pier Saturday for Houghton’s inaugural From the Ground Festival. The event had more than 40 vendors, plus food, live music, boat tours and more. About an hour after it started, around 600 people were enjoying the festivities, said Amy Zawada, Houghton’s downtown development coordinator. Almost four hours into the festival, the crowds had held steady, said Rachael Pressley of the From the Ground Farmer’s Market Collective. “A lot of our vendors are already out, or they’re asking if the market’s going to be like this, or where they can learn more and if we’re going to do this again next year,” she said. “It feels good. I think people are ready for the summer.” With the summer comes farmer’s markets, which will be held every Tuesday on the pier from 3 to 6 p.m. starting June 13. Click here to read more.
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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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