Grants Aim To Connect Michigan Farmers With Local Markets

By Zena Issa

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched a state-funded grant program designed to help small- and medium-sized food producers better transport and sell Michigan-grown food.

The program, called the Last Food Mile Grant, aims to strengthen local food supply chains by improving how food moves from farms to buyers, including schools, hospitals, restaurants and local markets.

Tim Boring, the director of the state agriculture department, said he believes the initiative will support healthier families in Michigan.

"There's an increased recognition and appreciation for how and where food is grown," Boring said. "Our department has specifically worked to be filling some of these gaps in the middle here of connecting farms with with end users, knowing that healthy food is a big part of having healthier community and having a healthier state."

He also said that while demand for locally grown food continues to grow, getting those products from farms to store shelves remains a hurdle.