LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Growing demand for locally sourced food is creating new opportunities for farmers while highlighting the need for stronger food distribution networks.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is continuing to expand its Farm to Family initiative and the Good Food for Michigan Project, programs designed to connect local farmers with schools, hospitals, community organizations, and consumers while increasing access to healthy food.
MDARD Director Tim Boring said the effort is intended to address multiple challenges at once by creating economic opportunities for farmers, strengthening rural economies and helping more Michigan-grown food stay in local communities.
“It’s an opportunity for farms to diversify, in some pretty challenging economic situations right now,” Boring said. “But it importantly links with community vitality, the health of rural economies.”
Consumer demand for locally grown food continues to rise as more people seek to understand where their food comes from and how it is produced.
One component of that strategy is MDARD’s Last Food Mile grant program, which recently awarded more than $2 million to support food distribution projects across Michigan.
The grants will fund 21 projects statewide, including two in Houghton County.
Boersma Family Roots received $101,000 to acquire a refrigerated van that will expand deliveries of Michigan-grown produce to schools, senior programs and restaurants throughout the western Upper Peninsula.
Ghost House Farm received $100,969 to purchase a refrigerated van and low-till equipment to increase deliveries of locally grown food to rural consumers, farmers markets, wholesalers and community organizations.
Boring said the department is already seeing measurable results from investments in local food systems.
“We’re seeing hundreds of thousands of additional pounds of fresh meat and produce going into our food systems,” he said. “We’re seeing additional economic opportunities for farms to stand up in ways they haven’t been able to.”
According to MDARD, more than 300 food producers are expected to benefit from the latest round of funding, with more than half implementing regenerative agriculture practices.
Boring said the long-term goal is to create stronger food systems that can support both farmers and communities for decades to come.
“The intention here is to be building towards more long-lasting, resilient, sustainable systems here,” Boring said. “For economic wins, and for better community health in the long term.”
The Last Food Mile grants are part of MDARD’s broader Farm to Family initiative, which also includes efforts to reduce barriers that schools, hospitals and other institutions face when purchasing locally grown foods.
