Michigan groups support disrupted local food value chains

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Michigan groups support disrupted local food value chains

The coordinator of the Michigan Food Hub Network says Michigan State University is continuing to support local food systems as entrepreneurs navigate through changing federal policies.

Samantha Stokes tells Brownfield, “The freezes of federal funds of various types have been extremely stressful for so many of the farms that we work with, the farm stops, it’s touched just about everyone.”

Stokes says local, healthy food shouldn’t be a luxury item.

“And that’s why these grant programs are so important, because farms and these supply chain businesses, they need, for lack of a better word, seed funds to figure out the efficiencies that need to be put in place, to figure out how to staff and how to create local food businesses that are economically viable,” she explains.

Stokes says she hopes state efforts like the 10 Cents a Meal Program and a new Farm to Families program can be strengthened as federal support dissipates.

Stokes also is leading the national food hub survey and says the data collected this year will be significant for understanding their value in local communities.

The Trump administration has canceled $ 1 billion in local food purchasing programs that were announced in December.

More than 30 U.S. Senators have sent a letter to the U.S. Ag Secretary saying the cancelation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program cause extreme harm to producers and communities in every state. The Senators want the decision to be reversed and more reimbursement details.