A bakery in Sutton Bay, an organic farm in Traverse City and a fifth-generation Petoskey-area family farm are among the seven recipients in Michigan’s Farm Stops grant program.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development program provides grants to "farm stops" -- small markets that support small-scale farmers. These spots offer a year-round, every-day retail-style market where consumers can buy local produce from farmers or producers.
Those farm stops include the
Coveyou Scenic Farm Market on U.S. 131 outside Petoskey. The market, part of the family's organic vegetable and fruit farm, will receive a $48,594 grant to double its coolers and capacity to display its own home-grown produce as well meats, fruits, vegetables and other food products from producers throughout Michigan, says David Coveyou, the farm’s owner.
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Coveyou Scenic Farm Fresh produce on display at the market.“If people can come in here and say: ‘Yes, I can get a couple of tomatoes or sweet corn (grown at his farm), but I can get all of these other things, too,’ then they come and shop almost like a grocery store, Coveyou says. “Why do you need to go stop at a big box store when you find that the quality and the flavor is there? This is a model that helps Northern Michigan food producers.”
What’s happening: Bolstering local food options is the point of the state’s Food Hub and Farm Stops grant program. Included in the state’s budget for fiscal year 2025, the Farm to Family program offers grants, networking opportunities, and marketing consultations for farmers, food businesses, and others in local food supply chains.
“Farm stops strengthen our food system by giving Michigan farmers and consumers more opportunities to buy and sell locally,” said Tim Boring, MDARD director. “Today’s Farm Stop grants will help bring healthy, locally grown produce and locally raised meat to Michigan communities, complementing MDARD’s investments in eight food hubs earlier this year. At MDARD, we’re committed to bettering the lives of all Michiganders. These investments will go a long way in delivering for communities.”
Nearly $342,000 is being awarded to seven businesses and non-profit organizations that operate as farm stops, which procure local food from local farmers in Michigan. In addition to Coveyou Scenic Farm, the grant recipients are:
- Ark Companies - $50,000 - Charlotte
- Boulangerie 9 LLC - $49,000 - Suttons Bay
- Barry Community Foundation - $50,000 - Hastings
- Lakeview Hill Organic Farm LLC - $49,992 - Traverse City
- Lively Holdings, LLC - $50,000 - Maple City
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids - $44,000 - Grand Rapids
The respective projects range from retail community grocery store expansion to cold storage upgrades to making it easier for senior citizens and individuals with mobility barriers to access fresh vegetables.
Building community: Community engagement is at the heart of the program’s development and activities, according to MDARD, which has responded to input shared by farmers, consumers, and others committed to keeping local, healthy food on tables across Michigan.
Coveyou Scenic Farm sells fresh produce from the family farm and other local farmers, who set their prices and display their own brand names. Also for sale are artisan creations, annual and perennial flowers, seasonal decor, and Amish-made outdoor furniture
“We partner with all of these smaller artists and food producers in Northern Michigan to sell their products, so we have something like 130 different Michigan food products that we sell,” Coveyou says.
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Coveyou Scenic Farm The family behind the Coveyou Scenic Farm Market. Five generations have run the farm in the past century or so.Items include everything from fruits and vegetables, meats and breads, salsa, chips and a wide assortment of assorted cherry products.
“Every year we keep adding more and making it more of a destination spot,” he says. “The last half dozen years, we've added meat… and a local baker bakes bread three days a week and brings his bread and bagels and all the pastries.”
He describes the market, housed in an historic barn, as "like a little grocery store that is all Michigan and is all local. Food producers can come in and showcase their products ... and it builds their brand,” Coveyou says.
“Just this morning, a farmer who we get carrots from stopped in and said, ‘David, thank you so much for buying my carrots and reselling them here.’"
As a smaller producer without his own farm store, he sells at farmers markets. Customers who have purchased his products at Coveyou's market have told him they search him out at local farmers markets.
“For a small producer to be able to get that kind of leverage, to get their name in front of more people, and then build their ability to have a successful business — that's kind of what this is all about,” Coveyou says.
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Coveyou Scenic Farm The Coveyou Scenic Farm in the fall.More about Farm to Family: Since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took office, MDARD has awarded more than $184 million in grant funds to support Michigan’s agricultural sector and local communities, ensure food safety, protect the environment, promote agricultural prosperity and create jobs. This funding includes more than $10.3 million to support rural development projects, more than $7.6 million of grants to strengthen regional food systems and more than $5.7 million of investments in food and agriculture businesses. In May,
MDARD awarded $361,920 to food hubs.
Rosemary Parker has worked as a writer and editor for more than 40 years. She is a regular contributor to Rural Innovation Exchange and other Issue Media Group publications.