Fresh food, stronger farms: Michigan invests millions to support local agriculture 

A new ‘Farm-to-Family’ grant program aims to connect Michigan farmers with more consumers, boost local economies, and build a stronger food system. Here’s how:

MICHIGAN—Imagine stopping by a local market on your way home from work and picking up some fresh, Michigan-made produce, dairy, and meat—all sourced from farms just miles away.

That’s the vision behind Michigan’s new Farm-to-Family grant program, which launched this week with a $3 million state investment that’s set to strengthen food supply chains and make fresh, homegrown food more accessible to Michiganders, particularly in rural communities.

“We’ve heard overwhelming feedback about the need to support food systems,” Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in a release. “This grant will support emerging aspects of agriculture and food systems infrastructure, as well as the growers and livestock producers who work so hard to provide for our communities.”

Specifically, the grant funding is designed to support a series of new “food hubs” and “farm stops” across the state that would make it easier for small farms to scale up production, expand distribution, and ultimately get more local agricultural products onto Michigan tables.

The initiative—which was a key priority in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s latest budget proposal—is also designed to provide more consumers better access to fresher, higher quality food.

How the Program Works

The Farm-to-Family Food Hubs and Farm Stops Grant Program will provide a series of one-time grants (of up to $50,000) to businesses with innovative models that deliver locally produced and healthy food to Michiganders, while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for farmers. 

In a release, state officials said it’s the first-ever state grant program in Michigan that’s specifically designed to strengthen the state’s “middle-of-the-supply-chain agri-food systems.”

Applications will only be accepted from Michigan-based “food hubs” and “farm stops” with strong ideas for expanding processing capacity, sourcing, transportation infrastructure, distribution service, or other relevant functions that “increase the vibrancy of Michigan’s food systems.”

Online applications are open now and are due back by 5 p.m. on Feb. 21. Grants will be awarded by June or July after a review process spanning from February to April. 

What Are Farm Stops and Food Hubs?

Farm Stops: A New Way to Shop Local

Farm Stops are year-round, retail-style markets where small-scale farmers can sell their products on a consignment model rather than committing to traditional farmers’ markets. 

This approach can support local farmers by allowing them to retain a higher percentage of profits and sell more products without the time constraints of attending weekend markets, according to Kathryn Barr, author of How to Start a Farm Stop. Customers can also see where their food comes from, with signage that often showcases the farms and their growing practices.

Food Hubs: The Middlemen of Local Food Systems

Food Hubs help small farms scale up by offering production, distribution and marketing services that can enable them to reach larger markets like restaurants, hospitals, and schools.

There are currently 11 food hubs in Michigan, according to Michigan State University, and they serve a crucial (but often invisible) role in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers. 

Sustainable America refers to Food Hubs as helpful “middlemen” for farmers. And by expanding their operations with new grant funding, state officials said they ultimately aim to help farmers gain access to larger markets so they can focus more on farming and less on business. 

Why This Matters

Boring said the goal of the program is to build a more secure, sustainable, and self-sufficient food economy in Michigan—namely by reducing the state’s reliance on processed foods and imports while strengthening connections between farmers, supply chains, and consumers.

“We know that locally produced, high-quality food has any number of health benefits in rural areas,” Boring said in a previous interview. “Making sure that people are eating better, growing high-value products. It’s healthier people, healthier economies, and healthier rural systems. This is work that’s going to address some of the barriers into making food access more possible.”

More details on eligibility, funding, and how to apply are available on MDARD’s website. 

READ MORE: 6 ways Michigan’s new state budget invests in rural communities 

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