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MIFFS Launches New Look

By: Marty Gerencer, MIFFS Communications

August 23, 2005: Connecting people to resources and creating new partnerships to build more sustainable food and farming systems in the state was Tom Guthrie’s vision for several years. So in 1998, after many long hours and numerous discussions, Tom, a lifelong farmer and one of the state’s most astute agricultural leaders, worked together with several key partners to found Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems – MIFFS, an agriculture organization with its existence based on the premise that agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability reinforce each other for the benefit of Michigan’s rural and urban communities.

Over its seven years of existence, MIFFS and its partners have taken on major initiatives to benefit the state’s food and farming systems. In July of 2004, the WK Kellogg Foundation granted the funding to the MIFFS organization to develop MIFFS’ organizational capacity with one of the key initiatives being enhanced communications, including a new look.

“Enhanced communications efforts began in early 2005, and after incorporating staff and member feedback and reviewing several designs, we worked with our council to reach the decision on the name, tagline, logo and overall look that we believe best signifies our organization and who we are,” said Elaine Brown, MIFFS executive director. “We decided that staying close to our birth name will continue to increase our awareness with those who know us and will build new awareness of who we are with those whom we have not yet met.”

Thus, Michigan Food & Farming Systems – MIFFS, was selected as the name, and the tagline selected was Bringing Farmers & Communities Together which further identifies our mission and purpose of building sustainable food systems and communities. MIFFS’ new logo incorporates an earthy color scheme, and the sun and land design completes the organization’s identity.

In the coming months, watch for MIFFS’ new look on the updated Web site, newsletters, advertisements and mailings which will also contain important news and updates related to sustainable agriculture in Michigan.