Food System Economic Partnership

Eastern Washtenaw Economic Development

Jen — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:07:23 +0000

Eastern Washtenaw Agricultural Economic Development

FSEP in partnership with Growing Hope and Washtenaw Public Health presented on opportunities in Agricultural Economic Development to the Eastern Leaders Group. View the presentation and case statement here. As part of this effort to promote job growth, Washtenaw County is exploring the possibility of creating a shared use kitchen incubator. For more information and to take the survey, click here

Bayshore Marathon Run for FSEP

Jen — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:04:24 +0000

Do you want healthy, local food served in school cafeterias? Do you want thriving small farms growing diverse food for our communities? Do you support helping the next generation of farmers? Jennifer Fike, Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) Executive Director is putting her passion for running and passion for local food together. She is running the Bayshore Marathon on May 26 in Traverse City to raise $ in support FSEP’s programs. Yup, that’s 26.2 miles! How about helping us out by donating per mile? $1-$5 per mile would make racing so much easier! You can donate by clicking here

Washtenaw Food Policy Council

rehmannm — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:09:09 +0000

The Washtenaw Food Policy Council is taking root! The 15-seat council will be dedicated to supporting and making policy recommendations that create a diverse, coordinated, and comprehensive food system in Washtenaw County.

If you are interested in policy work, join the Washtenaw Food Policy Council and help transform our community. Get involved by becoming a council member or serving on one of the policy sub-committees.

HomeGrown Local Food Summit

Jen — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:03:52 +0000

The 4th Annual HomeGrown LOCAL FOOD SUMMIT takes place on Monday,
April 2, 2012 from 8am-4pm at Washtenaw Community College. This Summit
is a one-day grassroots gathering of people interested in strengthening all aspects of our regional food system. The theme this year is “Local Food Victories Past, Present, and Future”, and keynote speaker will be Michigan historian and author Larry Massie whose
illustrated lecture is titled: “Rubaboo, Kalamazoo & Pasties Too: Aspects of Michigan’s Culinary Heritage.” Following the keynote, we will present “Local Food Victories” highlighting bright spots in our community. A delicious, locally sourced lunch will provide a time for sharing and networking, and a slate of breakout sessions addressing topics of the day will fill out the afternoon schedule. We’ll come together as a group again at the end of the day before heading off for happy hour at the Corner Brewery. Space is limited so please register soon if you would like to join us. We do not expect to have walk-up registration at the Summit. To register, see link at: http://localfoodsummit.org

SUMMIT DETAILS
Date: Monday, April 2, 2012 from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Morris Lawrence Building, at Washtenaw Community College
Cost: $35 (before March 26), $45 (after March 26)
Registration: http://localfoodsummit.org
Map: http://bit.ly/Api8jV

PRE-SUMMIT EVENT – FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – SUNDAY APRIL 1, 2012
- 1:00-3:00pm: Tour/Open House of the Washtenaw Food Hub, Tilian Farm
Development Center, and Food Gatherers
- 6:00-8:00pm – Film Screening/Spoken Word: “Getting Real About Food
and the Future” at the Morris Lawrence Bldg., Washtenaw Community
College
- Map: http://bit.ly/Api8jV
- RSVP: localfoodsummit@gmail.com

Leading up to the Summit, we are planning a self-guided tour of three
locations that could anchor a new “Food Innovation Zone” in Washtenaw
County: the Washtenaw Food Hub, Tilian Farm Development Center, and
Food Gatherers. These three locations will be hosting open houses,
free and open to the public, from 1:00-3:00pm, on Sunday April 1st.
Please RSVP to:localfoodsummit@gmail.com

After the open house/tour, please join us at 6:00pm for a film
screening and spoken word event honoring our friend and Michigan food
advocate Chris Bedford. Chris’ final film “”Getting Real About Food
and the Future” was released in 2011. The film tells stories of the
food revolution and features interviews with Bill McDonough, John
McKnight, David Korten, Lester Brown and others that create a vision
for community renewal and reinvention starting with good food.
Leading up to the film, local spoken word artists will riff on the
meaning, form, pleasure and place of food in our lives.

Meet and Greet for Food Growers and Buyers

Jen — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:52:23 +0000

Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) and FoodLab Detroit are hosting a meet and greet between local growers and food buyers in Southeastern Michigan! We invite you to join us on Wednesday, March 14 at COLORS Restaurant (The Virgil Carr Building, 311 E. Grand River, Detroit, MI 48226) from 4-6pm. If you are attending, please take this survey to RSVP which will gather information about participants so we can better connect you with relevant markets, resources, and future workshops. We are interested in your questions, thoughts, ideas, and needs as a vital part of our local food system! Click on the flyer below for more information.

FoodCorps Accepting Applications for 2012-13

Jen — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:49:59 +0000

If you’re interested in applying to FoodCorps for 2012 – see this notice.

“Time is running out to apply to be a FoodCorps service member for 2012 – 2013. Last month we began our search for up to 100 emerging leaders: future public health professionals, future school gardeners and farmers, and future nutrition directors. We have received an exciting number of great questions and wonderful applications—keep them coming!
Are you considering applying but have questions or concerns about the application process? Join us for our second and final FoodCorps recruitment open call on Thursday, March 1st at 6:00 pm EST (4:00 pm CST / 3:00 pm MST / 2:00 pm PST). Team members from FoodCorps’ national office will be on the line to answer your questions.
Dial-in Number: (218) 936-4700
Access Code: 7904113#
Right now you—or someone you know—has the opportunity to help create a healthy future for a generation of children.
Applications are open through March 25th. For more information and to apply, click here.
Curt, Deb, Cecily and the FoodCorps team”

Washtenaw County Kitchen Incubator Survey

Jen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:25:14 +0000

Please see below for information about a very exciting project in the works in eastern Washtenaw County to develop a shared used incubator kitchen!

If you or your business, organization, school, etc is a prospective kitchen user, please take our survey, available at http://tinyurl.com/8294kbm

“On behalf of the Washtenaw County Board of County Commissioners, the Office of Community and Economic Development is exploring developing a food system workforce development program and commercial kitchen incubator with the expressed desire to:
Improve the economic climate in the county by fostering agri-business economic development and creating accessible opportunities for food-based entrepreneurs;
Provide training and jobs for chronically unemployed workers in a low-skill, meaningful job in the growing agribusiness and food service sector, with opportunities to advance into other full-time employment opportunities; and
Improve health and nutrition outcomes for local low-income residents through the production of and access to local food.
To help us identify needs and opportunities for a commercial kitchen and kitchen incubator facility, we ask that you take a few minutes to respond to this CONFIDENTIAL survey. You will also be able to receive information as we move forward with this project by supplying your contact information.
Thank you for your help; we look forward to hearing from you.”
Sincerely,

Mary Jo Callan, Director
Office of Community & Economic Development

For more information on this project, please contact Tony VanDerworp, project manager at vanderworpa@ewashtenaw.org

Sign Up Now for the Tilian CSA

Jen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:11:28 +0000

CSA means Community Supported Agriculture.

By the joining the Tilian CSA you are entering in to a relationship with local farmers that brings your family fresh, healthy, organic vegetables and herbs every week year round, at a great price!

Apply today and know that you and your family are improving your own health while also building that of our Ann Arbor ecosystems.
Become Tilian CSA members and you will also be supporting the development of new farmers and new farm businesses in our community. Proceeds from your share go directly to support the Farmer Residency Program and the Farm Incubator Program at Tilian. We offer three different 16 week share sessions:
Summer Share- May through August
Fall Share- September through December
Winter Share- January through April

Shares are priced on a sliding scale starting at $690 and going up to $1000, or as much as you are able to contribute. At $690, this breaks down to $44.13/week; only $10.78 per person per week or $2.70 per person per day!

This is a great value for you and your family as well as an incredible benefit to the development of new farmers in our community! For more information and to sign up, click here

FSEP Receives USDA Grant to Support New Farmers

Jen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:25:02 +0000

FSEP was recently awarded a grant through the USDA Farmers’ Market Promotion Program. The grant funds will be used to purchase farm equipment for the Tilian Farm Development Center and will allow FSEP to support new and beginning farmers by providing a more fluid access to capital. The FMPP grant is a crucial program funded through the Farm Bill and is creating jobs in food and agriculture, which is the second leading industry in Michigan with an economic impact of $71 billion and will be a key step in bringing the state to economic recovery. Click here for an article by the Michigan Daily about the grant award.

October is National Farm to School Month

Jen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:47:40 +0000

Many schools in southeast Michigan have launched Farm to School programs in the last few years. October is the first ever National Farm to School month. There are now Farm to School programs in all 50 states. Alan Breneman, Food Service Director with Concord Community Schools in Jackson County has been a leader in sourcing local food from area farms for the school meals program. Click here for more information about Concord’s successful Farm to School program. Concord press release