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Michigan Farmers’ Market Association will enhance farmers markets and local food consumption across the state

March 28, 2006: Michigan Food & Farming Systems – MIFFS will work with project partners to develop the Michigan Farmers’ Market Association (MIFMA).

MIFFS received a $87,363 grant from the Farmer Market Coalition Project for Public Spaces to develop the Michigan Farmers’ Market Association (MIFMA), a state-wide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers’ markets. This project is supported by a grant from Project for Public Spaces, Inc., with funding provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

In the past five years, the number of farmers’ markets in Michigan has skyrocketed, from around 90 in 2001 to more than 150 today. However, many of these markets struggle to maintain effective management and funding as well as find quantities of fresh food necessary to meet consumer demand.

MIFMA will be developed to solve these problems by promoting farmers’ markets across the state and achieving visibility to both producers and consumers, aiding in farmers’ market management and education, and developing long-term, sustainable funding strategies.

Another key role of MIFMA will be to collaborate with governmental agencies on policy to make regulations friendlier and more supportive of farmers’ markets. Other initiatives will assist communities in beginning new farmers markets or expanding existing ones and providing educational services and consulting to market managers, vendors and sponsors.

Project partners are the Michigan State University CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, the Saginaw Farmers’ Market, and the MSU Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies. The project management team includes Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director; Dan Keane, Saginaw Downtown Farmers’ Market Coordinator; Jim Bingen, MSU Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies Professor; and Susan Smalley, MSU Extension Specialist for Sustainable Food and Farming Systems. Other market managers who have indicated interest and support for developing a statewide entity will also play key roles.

This grant was one of only four grants for statewide projects awarded across the U.S. in the Diversifying Public Markets and Farmers’ Markets 2006 Grant Program.

Visit the MIFMA Web site at www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu or the Project for Public Spaces site at www.pps.org for more information.