TRAVERSE CITY -- A new local network has some big plans for the region's farming sector -- to double its value over the next decade.
The Northwest Michigan Food and Farm Network formed to follow through on some of the objectives of the new Grand Vision land-use and transportation plan. It showed strong local support for protecting the area's farm land, and to promote local food and employment opportunities.
The network is made up of 15 local civic, business, government and education groups working to expand the local food economy, including land conservancies in Leelanau and Grand Traverse, the area Council of Governments, the Traverse Bay EDC and the Michigan Land Use Institute. Its goal is to double the market value of food and agricultural sales in the six-county area, and increase the market share of local food purchases from regional food and agricultural businesses to 10 percent, up from the current estimate of 2 percent.
The project also aims to increase access for area residents to local food products, and increase the profitability and the diversity of local food products. Another goal is to protect sufficient farmland along with water and energy resources to sustain local agriculture.
"We've been limited in fresh markets for a long time," said local farmer and farm business counselor Jim Bardenhagen of Leelanau County. "But that's changing, and that means new economic opportunity for our rural towns, or region."
Organizers began meeting last summer and held a "Farm Route to Prosperity" summit in February. There they established a series of working groups to work on various segments of the effort, including development of health and youth programs, creating a farmland inventory and land-use strategies, an education/training component, and establishing an infrastructure of regional producers, buyers and distributions. Other groups are working on identifying funding sources, building demand and supply chains and creating education and capital initiatives for food producers and sellers.
The group is also developing a Web site so interested parties and the public can offer input and track the initiative's progress.
A recent MLUI report called Northwest Michigan's Farm Factor indicated that local agriculture generates nearly $98 million in annual sales, and nearly $140 million in yearly economic impact.
But the research also indicates there's room for significant growth. For example, only three of every 100 apples grown in the area go to local consumers. Increasing direct sales locally and wholesaling more fresh produce could generate another $11 million-plus for local agriculture, according to the Institute.
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