Good Food for Michigan connects Michigan farmers, growers, and food producers to schools, hospitals, and other institutions across the state to expand local and regional food markets and bring fresh food from values-aligned sources to more Michiganders.
The Good Food for Michigan Project aims to expand the number of schools, hospitals, and other institutions that purchase Michigan-grown and produced food and to showcase the robust benefits of these partnerships that boost local agricultural economies and benefit the health and wellbeing of people, animals, and the planet.
Upcoming Events
Join us for a Flint and Genesee County focused Buyer/Supplier event hosted by Good Food for Michigan on Oct. 29 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Bendle High School, 2283 E. Scottwood Ave., Burton, MI 48529. The event’s program will focus on bringing together buyers from local institutions and suppliers for an evening of food purchasing matchmaking, though all interested buyers and suppliers are welcome.
Register by Oct. 19: https://forms.gle/7CSM4X2MVf15HrqG7
Interested in learning more about Good Food for Michigan? Join Melanie Tran of Center for Good Food Purchasing and May Tsupros of Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems for office hours.
Office hours are a dedicated virtual “open door” space where MI Good Food Stakeholders can drop in for 5 minutes or a whole hour (4-5 p.m. ET) to raise concerns, seek advice, pitch ideas, follow up understanding from webinar content, or seek support with Pledge challenges. This removes the challenge of finding mutual time to meet and provides the benefit of potential peer-to-peer brainstorming if multiple stakeholders attend office hours at once.
Register for Office Hours:
Good Food for Michigan Pledge
No matter who you are, if you’re interested in Good Food Purchasing, we’re here for you! Whether you’re just getting started and want to make connections or you’re already prioritizing Michigan local sourcing and Good Food Values in your work, we want to support you to take your commitment to the next level.
The pledge is a commitment for food buyers, suppliers, and supporters to take steps towards Good Food Purchasing. By signing up for the pledge you will:
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Join a community committed to advancing Michigan food systems
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Receive information on educational opportunities to help you on your Good Food Purchasing journey
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Receive invitations to participate in Good Food for Michigan activities and events
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Be recognized for your progress
Participation in or adoption of the Good Food Purchasing Program is not an expectation for those signing the pledge.
This project advances the goals of the Michigan Good Food Charter.
Who is the Pledge for?
Good Food Buyers
''I buy food to serve the public''- School Districts
- Hospitals or health care institutions
- Community-based senior meal providers
- Child care sites or early care and education centers
- Colleges and universities
Good Food Suppliers
''I grow, sell, or distribute food.''- Farmers, ranchers, or other agricultural producers
- Food hubs
- Food distributors
- Food retailers
Good Food Champions
''I support good food systems.''- Food policy councils
- Community based organizations
- Food and health networks
- Government
- Other: Community members including taxpayers, parents/guardians of students, patients, etc.
Sign the Pledge today to join a growing community of Good Food buyers, suppliers, and champions across Michigan:
Photo credit: Sarah Rypma
Our Story
By connecting Michigan’s farmers, growers, and food producers with schools, hospitals and other institutions using the power of procurement, the Good Food for Michigan project is aimed at strengthening regional food systems and equipping institutions with the resources they need to serve nutritious and locally grown foods.
By helping institutions purchase Michigan-grown foods, this program is aimed at creating new opportunities for farmers to sell locally, improve access to nourishing foods and build healthier, more resilient economies and communities.
This program was developed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and stakeholders in agriculture and education across the state. Goals of the program include:
- Increasing transparency of food purchases made by schools, hospitals, and other Michigan institutions to create awareness about the sources of food served to students, patients, and others.
- Supporting schools, hospitals, and other institutions to increase their capacity to procure and serve products grown and produced in Michigan and aligned with the Good Food Purchasing Program values of Community Health & Nutrition, Valued Workforce, Environmental Sustainability, Animal Welfare, Local & Community-Based Economies, and Equity, Accountability, & Transparency.
- Boosting local and regional food markets by increasing the demand for locally grown items because more of them are purchased by schools, hospitals, and other institutions.
Photo credit: Sarah Rypma
The Impact of Good Food for Michigan
The benefits of this program are enormous. In the state budget, Michigan allocated nearly $250 million to pay for breakfast and lunch in public schools. The average annual food budget at a hospital in the United States is $2.6 million — imagine capturing just a portion of that at the 140 hospitals across Michigan. An effort to redirect even some of those dollars to local producers will allow farmers to hire more workers, invest in equipment and invest more in the local economy. Every dollar spent on local food can generate nearly twice the economic activity compared to money spent on food from other states.
Resources
Resources for food producers
Support for farmers, ranchers, and other producersContact Us
Food producers can get involved in Good Food for Michigan by reaching out to our team at GoodFoodMI@goodfoodpurchasing.org for technical assistance, connections with food hubs and vendor relationships, and other support.
Resources for institutions
Support for schools, hospitals, and other institutionsContact Us
Institutions can get involved in Good Food for Michigan by reaching out to our team at GoodFoodMI@goodfoodpurchasing.org for technical assistance, connections with producers and vendor relationships, and other support.
How to find local Michigan food
Support for consumersContact Us
Consumers and taxpayers can learn more about Good Food for Michigan by reaching out to our team at GoodFoodMI@goodfoodpurchasing.org for more insight into our program and goals, our partner institutions, and other information.
The Center for Good Food Purchasing has developed the Good Food Operators Field Guide, a crowd-sourced, living collection of best practices and strategies that can amplify the positive impact of your food purchasing. That’s right – every time you direct food dollars to growers, producers, and suppliers who are going above and beyond the status quo, you are cultivating a food system where Good Food is the norm, not the exception.
The Good Food Operators Field Guide is a resource open to all. The exciting news for Michigan institutions is that the Good Food for Michigan project has incredible technical advisors ready to help you learn, plan, and implement these strategies! So take a look, and then let’s talk about how you see Good Food becoming a bigger part of your menu.
We know that when institutions buy and serve local foods, they support local producers, strengthen the economy, and promote healthy eating. Site visits are an impactful way to help decision-makers better understand your efforts and how their decisions can help support it—whether your goal is to raise awareness, show progress, or advocate for change.
This new Good Food for Michigan guide, “Invitation for Impact: How To Host Policymaker Site Visits,” provides a step-by-step approach, practical tools, and templates to help you plan and host a site visit with policymakers:
Photo credit: Sarah Rypma
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Good Food for Michigan Project?
The Good Food for Michigan Project is intended to expand the number of schools, hospitals, and other institutions committed to purchasing Michigan-grown and produced food and showcase the robust benefits of these partnerships to foster interest in and demand for healthy foods and local agricultural economies in our state.
What impact will the Good Food for Michigan Project have on the state?
By helping Michigan food producers to increase their share of food supplied to institutions across the state, farmers will see demand increase for their products and those served by schools, hospitals, and other institutions will have opportunities to try locally grown items.
Which agencies are part of the Good Food for Michigan Project?
Good Food for Michigan is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, the Center for Good Food Purchasing, and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
Which institutions are working with the Good Food for Michigan Project?
Good Food for Michigan is proud to partner with Bendle Public Schools in Genesee County, the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Community Action Agency (CLMCAA) in the Upper Peninsula, Dearborn Public Schools in Wayne County, and Corewell Health Foundation West Michigan. These institutions are piloting the Good Food Purchasing Program in Michigan and are receiving grant funds to help make investments to expand access to fresh, locally sourced, values-aligned food across the state.
How can my organization, school, or hospital get involved in the Good Food for Michigan Project?
Good Food buyers, suppliers, and champions are invited to commit to advancing Good Food for Michigan goals by signing the Good Food for Michigan Pledge. Anyone interested in getting involved with Good Food for Michigan may join us during our online events, buyer/supplier events, or monthly office hours for technical assistance. Additional questions and requests for assistance with good food purchasing efforts may be directed to Melanie Tran, Michigan Institutional Impact Manager, at GoodFoodMI@goodfoodpurchasing.org.
In the News
Questions & Media Inquiries
Questions or media inquiries may be submitted to Melanie Tran, Michigan Institutional Impact Manager, at GoodFoodMI@goodfoodpurchasing.org. Please note any relevant deadlines in your inquiry.
Stay Tuned
Sign up to receive updates on the Good Food for Michigan project, including highlights from our partners and ways you can get involved.