The wide world of local and healthy food is coming together at the community level in many ways. A new guidebook explains how some towns are developing whole business districts around the synergy of community gardens, farmers markets, farm-to-table eateries, cottage food businesses and more.“Food Innovation Districts: An Economic Gardening … [Read more...]
Case Studies and Tips on Small Farm Financing
On the Line: Food and JobsLack of access to financial capital is a chief obstacle for newer farmers in the United States. This problem is urgent because the vast majority of farmers are at retirement age, and few of their children are choosing to stay in agriculture. A next generation of farmers is essential for future food security. New … [Read more...]
Small Farms, Local Food Getting Some Hot New Technology
Jane Bush of Charlotte, MI, is one of those smaller farmers with a diverse mix of products for a broad range of local customers. The latest venture for her Apple Schram Organic Orchard is sales of early tomatoes and extended season greens to hospitals in Jackson, Ann Arbor and Lansing, Michigan, as part of the new Four Seasons Cooperative.Like … [Read more...]
Food Innovation District: New Economic Gardening Tool
Farmers and gardeners all know that the most powerful thing they can do to grow healthy plants is to invest in soil. Rich soil is the key to vibrant, resilient plants; it’s the basic building block of life.Now take that truth and apply it to your local economy. What is the most powerful thing we can do to grow strong businesses and lasting … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Michigan Farmers Turn Up the Volume
In this Fair Food Network video we report on a range of Michigan farmers pursuing opportunities in local and regional food markets. Doors are opening especially for mid-scale farmers and smaller operations with the volume and capacity to act. … [Read more...]
Lenders Learn How to Bank on Small Farms, Local Food
Financing team offers training as part of healthy food initiativeBy Patty CantrellNic Welty employs himself full time year-round raising lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens in three low-cost passive solar greenhouses, which together cover less than one acre of land.His Nine Bean Rows farm near Traverse City, MI, is one of many … [Read more...]
Food Innovation Districts Work
It’s widely understood in economic development circles that if you want new entrepreneurs to start up and grow, a good strategy is to bring them together and let the creativity roll.A good example is People’s Pierogi Collective, which grew in one year from a startup hot food cart at Detroit’s Eastern Market to contract talks with local and … [Read more...]
Making Way for Cottage Food Entrepreneurs
Nayyirah Shariff is on her way to an entrepreneur’s life of making signature products, employing local people, and investing in her home state of Michigan.The young woman from Flint has her marching orders from customers who have lined up every week to buy her sweet and savory fresh-baked, organic artisan breads. Now she’s putting this … [Read more...]
