By Andi Anderson
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) have announced the launch of the new Farmers to Markets program, designed to help farmers succeed at community markets and increase the availability of Michigan-grown foods.
The program aims to improve sales opportunities for vendors while strengthening local food systems across the state.
MDARD Director Tim Boring emphasized the program’s value for both farmers and families. He said, “The Farmers to Markets program will strengthen regional food systems by supporting reliable season-long sales for Michigan farmers market vendors, reducing risks associated with new market entry while promoting sales of local agriculture products. By building vendor capacity at participating markets, we can give Michigan families more access to nutritious, locally grown foods throughout the market season. This program will be a win-win for Michigan’s hardworking growers and vendors and Michiganders who prioritize knowing where their food comes from.”
The program will invest up to $492,000 to increase the number of farmer vendors at community‑driven markets throughout Michigan. MDARD and MIFMA will use these funds to help vendors who struggle to enter markets or who face challenges that prevent full participation.
MIFMA Executive Director Amanda Shreve discussed the importance of balancing support for both customers and vendors. She stated, “As an organization that supports community-driven marketplaces where farmers connect directly with their consumers, we often get asked the classic chicken-and-egg question: which do you need to invest in first, attracting customers or recruiting and retaining farmers and vendors to create and sustain marketplaces. We are excited to partner with MDARD through their Farm to Family Program to answer this question with a resounding 'both!' The Farmers to Markets program will help markets attract customers while ensuring the markets have consistent and reliable attendance from farmers who are achieving viable sales."
The Farmers to Markets program focuses on several major goals, including supporting consistent farmer sales, reducing risks for new vendors, helping vendors improve their market operations, retaining vendors struggling with low sales, and strengthening market reliability so customer numbers can grow.
By improving vendor participation, the program aims to increase the availability of fresh, local products each market week.
The initiative will work alongside other MDARD programs that support regional food systems, such as the FarmStart Program, Last Food Mile grants, and the Good Food for Michigan Project. MDARD’s Farm to Family Program has already awarded more than $730,000 to help food hubs and farm stops expand access to local foods, resulting in over 100,000 pounds of local products reaching nearly 1,400 families.
MIFMA, established in 2006, continues its mission of connecting farmers and consumers through community markets. Michigan’s farmers markets have grown significantly, increasing from about 90 in 2001 to nearly 300 today.
Farmers and vendors interested in participating can visit MIFMA’s website to learn more about the program and explore opportunities for direct marketing through community marketplaces.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jevtic
Categories: Michigan, Rural Lifestyle