Supply Chain Growth: Muskegon Farmers Market

In Muskegon, a city-owned, all-season farmers market building is about to also become a food hub—a place where farmers can bring or combine their products for wholesale customers. Project manager Marty Gerencer said 10 Cents a Meal* was a catalyst in helping to launch it this spring.

A coalition of groups that include the city, community foundation, and schools had secured various grants to support the growth of farm to school activities and to conduct feasibility studies for a food hub. When six school districts in Muskegon County won 10 Cents a Meal grants, she said it made people realize it was time to stop talking and act. “Once state funding came in the door, it was like, ok, there is money to buy fresh product,” she said. “It was like the light went on.” Dan Gorman, Food Service Director for Montague Area Public Schools and Whitehall District Schools, is organizing orders from as many of the 16 districts in Muskegon that want to participate in purchasing from the hub. They will start small, likely with two products they know farmers will have this spring and then expand in the summer and fall. Cherry Capital Foods, the local foods distributor from Traverse City, is also involved for deliveries. “If every school in Muskegon County could be in the 10 Cents Program, the goal with the food hub is that every January we could do a request for produce from our local growers for the following school year. We could say what type of produce is needed and what volume we would use per month, and see what kind of price that would bring. This would give us a consistent supply of great local products and give farmers a stable market,” Gorman said. The state’s support also re-affirmed for Muskegon officials the merits of agriculture for community economic development, Gerencer said.

*Michigan’s 10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms is a successful state pilot that provides schools with up to 10 cents a meal in match funding to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes. This is one in a series of stories documenting 10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms.

Do you like this post?

Showing 5 reactions

Sign in with

abebe bikila commented 2024-04-24 03:18:22 -0400
With Massey Ferguson tractors for sale, farmers in Muskegon County can access reliable machinery to streamline their operations and meet the growing demand for local produce. Whether it’s preparing the soil, planting crops, or harvesting, Massey Ferguson tractors offer the versatility and performance needed to optimize agricultural practices. https://www.masseyferguson.ae/
Tarctors Pk commented 2022-06-06 03:22:04 -0400
The “supply chain” stage refers to the steps taken to deliver food from the farmer to the consumer. Transformed into sellable goods, these products can be processed, packaged and stored before eventually being transported to market.
We are providing farm machinery and equipment such as tractors, harvesters and other agricultural supplies. For more detail, visit https://www.tractorspakistan.com/ng
Sulman Yasir commented 2022-03-30 03:41:16 -0400
Tractors are used for farming. They are used to till the soil, plant seeds and harvest crops. Tractors have been around for a long time now. The first tractor was created in 1892 by John Froelich. The first tractors were steam powered and were only capable of pulling plows through the fields. The most popular tractors in Nigeria come from three major brands – John Deere, Massey Ferguson and New Holland. To See the Lasted Massey Ferguson Tractors Models Visit Website :https://www.tractorcorner.com/ng/
Sulman Yasir commented 2022-02-26 14:41:18 -0500
Crops are cultivated and harvested using agricultural machinery. Tools have been used to help people grow and harvest crops since ancient times. To harvest the ripened crops, they used agricultural tools to keep the soil loose and sharp. Small hand tools like hoes, rakes, and trowels were developed due to this modification of early implements. Grass shears, gardening toolsets, and pruners are among examples of large hand tools developed as a result of the use of large implements.Modern agriculture is dominated by tractors see (https://www.masseyferguson.so) . In addition to providing many other implements, it also provides power for machines drawn behind the tractor. In addition to driving equipment such as feed grinders, pumps, and electric power generators, tractors may also be set up to power equipment such as feed grinders.
qamer abbas commented 2022-01-04 11:35:02 -0500
The use of agriculture machinery helps produce the best quality crop. Farmers should use modern farm equipment in the field. (https://www.masseytractors.ng/farm-implements-nigeria/)