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MIFFS and Stakeholders Met to Develop Feedback for House Bills 5837 and 5280, the Cottage Food Bills

May 18, 2010 - There has been much conversation lately about the legislative opportunity presented in House Bills 5837 and 5280, the Cottage Food Bills, and Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) would like to take a few minutes of your time to share our part of the discussion.

Last year, the MIFFS Council took a policy position to support the concepts in the bill and sent a letter to the bill sponsor stating that support. That policy position has not changed, and the language in these new bills is the same as last year’s bill. MIFFS is currently working in partnership with other stakeholders to provide feedback to the bill sponsors, Representative Proos-R and Representative Byrnes-D, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.

On May 17, Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director, was present at the second cottage food bills subcommittee meeting in which the group talked through the proposed amendments in the bills and revised and drafted language that was clear and supported by the stakeholders around the table, including Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Farm Market and Agri-tourism Association, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Association for Local Public Health, Michigan Farmers Market Association, farmers market managers and others. After a productive six hours, the group was prepared to submit the notes from the discussion to Legislative Services Bureau to amend the language in the current bills. None of the workgroup participants opposed the bill, and all worked in good faith to reach consensus on clearer language.

If you’re interested in the meeting summary from the May 5 House Committee on Agriculture legislative hearing on the bills, view it here: http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/
2009-2010/Minutes/agri050510.pdf. MIFFS was not present at that meeting, but Dru Montri, Manager of the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), which operates under the umbrella of MIFFS, was present.

Especially in these difficult economic times, MIFFS believes there is a great opportunity for agriculture, especially local food, to empower our state's economy, as well as our small farmers and consumers. We also believe that partnerships are essential to making positive change, and together with our partners and members, we support legislation that helps provide opportunities for small and medium-sized farms and businesses to succeed as we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that has long sustained our state and economy. We know that through our partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders that this legislation can provide new opportunities for our state's farmers and farmers markets.

We will keep you posted on the progress of this legislation. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact Elaine Brown with any questions or concerns you may have at 517-432-0712 or browne@msu.edu.

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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.