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September 17 Declared “Buy Local - Select Michigan Day” by Michigan House of Representatives to Promote Local Food and Michigan Agriculture

September 21, 2009 – The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Resolution No. 157, introduced by Representative Goeff Hansen – 100th District, on September 16 proclaiming September 17, 2009 “Buy Local - Select Michigan Day” to encourage all citizens to buy fresh local food and support Michigan farmers.

The “Select Michigan Farmers Market” gave shoppers a great opportunity to do just that, as nearly 60 vendors from all over the state, from South Haven to Bad Axe to Sault Ste. Marie, were gathered on the east lawn of the Capitol in Lansing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sell the bounty of Michigan agriculture’s harvest. With Michigan being the second most diverse state in the nation in agricultural commodities with more than 200 to offer, shoppers sampled and took home a huge variety of goodies in their bags and baskets, including seasonal fruits and vegetables, cut flowers and potted plants, spices and herbs, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, fish and other meats, cheese, nuts, mushrooms, wool, soap and much, much more.

This market was the last of three this summer that Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture – Select Michigan Program have partnered to put on to celebrate and raise awareness about Michigan’s rich agricultural heritage and its huge impact on our state’s local economy.

“If every household spent $10 per week of their current grocery budget on locally grown and produced foods, it would keep almost $2 million working for Michigan’s economy every year,” said Governor Jennifer Granholm as she visited the July 23 Select Michigan Farmers Market at the Capitol earlier this summer.

Special Select Michigan Farmers Markets were held on July 23 at the Capitol, on August 20 for the first time at Detroit Eastern Market and again on September 17 at the Capitol. Michigan is home to around 200 farmers markets, more than double the numbers of markets in the state just a few years ago, and these special markets are building on that positive momentum for local food in our marketplace.

September 17 also kicked off the 2009 Michigan Harvest Gathering, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan had a press conference on the Capitol steps and a booth at the market where shoppers and farmers could donate fresh, local food to area food banks and share their harvest with those in need. They also launched their “Fill Michigan’s Fridge” campaign, where anyone can donate funds online at www.fbcmich.org to help feed hungry families.

Farmers markets like this one not only bring farmers and communities together to enjoy fresh local food but help keep money circulating in the area, supporting the local and state economies. Plus, when most food travels more than 1,000 miles from the field to a dinner plate, fresh sounds awfully good, especially when it was picked just hours ago from a nearby farm.

To find a farm or farmers market in your area, visit www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu, which list great sources of local food all over the state. To learn more about supporting Michigan’s triple bottom line – our economy, environment and the social well-being of our communities – visit www.miffs.org.

Sponsors and partners for these markets include the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Select Michigan Program, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS), the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), Detroit Eastern Market, Slow Food Detroit, the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Michigan farmers and specialty food producers who make these great markets possible.

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Founded in 1998, MIFFS is a statewide membership organization (501c3) whose purpose is to promote diverse efforts that foster and sustain food and farming systems that improve economic, ecological and social well-being.  MIFFS has been effective at establishing successful partnerships among producers, markets and institutions that have created more profitable, environmentally friendly food systems in Michigan.        

The organization’s vision is based on the premise that agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability reinforce each other for the benefit of Michigan’s rural and urban communities.  To learn more, please visit www.miffs.org or call (517) 432-0712.