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Note: This article was written in 2005. MIFFS Marketline has since retired, and Michigan MarketMaker has taken its place as an excellent direct marketing tool for buyers and sellers of agricultural goods and services. Read more...

MIFFS Marketline Updates and Promotions

By: Jim Krenek, MIFFS Business Development Director

2005: Marketline is a free Web site linking farmers seeking to add or expand marketing opportunities to food buyers. The Marketline site is an easy way to locate fresh and locally produced Michigan farm products. Chefs, produce managers, processors, dieticians, caterers, school food service directors and others find Marketline to be an easy way to source local, fresh foods.

Marketline lists food buyers and farms by county and provides directions and other contact information for ease in use.

Registration can easily be accomplished online using the Marketline Web site, http://www.miffsmarketline.org, or a registration form can be downloaded from the Web site and mailed to the MIFFS office.

Marketline was created by the Michigan Integrated Food and Farming Systems through a USDA – Rural Business Enterprise Grant. Since its inception by Tom Guthrie in 2002, more than 380 farmers and food buyers have registered on the Marketline database.

MIFFS staff Marketline marketing activities last year included:
• Contacting all Marketline subscribers to update their business listings
•Contacting Michigan State University Extension offices to encourage promotion of this service
• Preparing news articles promoting Marketline
• Sending an e-mail survey to all Marketline Sellers to obtain information from them that will be used to improve the use of the Web site.

It’s easy to register as a buyer or seller, easy to use, and it’s free!!!