School lunches don't always have to be pizza and fries. It could be the carrot from down the street or the potato from your neighbor's farm. Local food is growing and growing these days and local farmers have an opportunity to grow their businesses. An Ann Arbor-based non-profit is helping these farmers do just that.
Excerpt:
Jane Bush, a business development specialist for the
partnership, said there is growing demand for locally grown food
such as fruits, vegetables, eggs and other farm products. She said
local producers could share in millions of dollars if southeast
Michigan grew all the food its residents consume.
Michaelle Rehmann, director of the partnership's Farm to School
Program, told those attending the forum that local growers have
opportunities to sell produce, meat and dairy products to schools,
universities, hospitals, correctional facilities and even homeless
shelters for the needy.
Schools in Ann Arbor and Chelsea and a charter school in Detroit
already are holding "Farm Fresh Fridays" or Wednesdays in the
fall where locally grown green beans, cauliflower, potatoes and
other produce are served in the cafeterias.
"That's great for students and their health and translates into
more opportunities for local farmers," Rehmann said.
Read the entire article
here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.