MIFFS Programs

MIFFS takes on programs that are vital to the success of our mission to advance and sustain food and farming in which agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability reinforce each other for the benefit of Michigan's communities.

Current Programs and Projects:

• Multicultural Farmers Program: connects limited resource, family farmers to important resources, production information, technical assistance and marketing opportunities.
• Covert Healthy Snacks Project: helps Covert-area small farms improve their marketing and business plans while providing fresh, local fruits and vegetables for Covert Public Schools students.
• Michigan Farmers Market Association: advances farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products, places farmers markets at the forefront of the local food movement and works to ensure all residents have access to healthy, locally grown food.
• Good Agricultural and Good Handling Practices: focuses on steps and strategies to safely get fresh local product to regional grocery stores and the wholesale distributors that service them.
• "Meet the Buyers": links Michigan produce growers with wholesale buyers during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo to get more local produce on store shelves and into restaurants
• Farmers Markets at the Capitol: partners with the MDA Select Michigan Program and MIFMA to host two farmers markets on the Capitol lawn and raise awareness about local food.
• Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup: facilitated by Elaine Brown, MIFFS Executive Director, the group's purpose is to address the question: Where do we want to be in 3 to 5 years on access to fresh unprocessed whole milk?
• Food Safety Discussion Forums for Small Food Processors, Producers and Food Entrepreneurs: These forums, hosted by MIFFS with funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, learned more about perceptions and experiences of food safety regulations and how regulations have affected small food businesses.

Completed Programs and Successes:

Unheated Hoophouses for Year-Round Production

Huron and Oceana County Incubator Kitchens

Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Pastured Poultry

MIFFS Marketline and Michigan MarketMaker

Our organization and programs are focused around our four core strategies:

• Assisting family farmers, including limited resource (multicultural), underserved farmers to develop entrepreneurial business, marketing, production and management skills to sustain their farming operations.
• Growing market opportunities by linking consumers, communities and farmers.
• Supporting agricultural stewardship and sustainable production.
• Informing and influencing public policy and institutional decisions that impact family farms.