Farmers and food service professionals gather in South Haven, Mich.

Local growers wanting to promote their farm products and food service professionals interested in purchasing local food products are welcomed to attend a “Meet and Greet” on Tuesday, November 29.

Michigan State University Extension has formed a new Community Food Systems team to support local foods, which includes the goal of increasing access to healthy, locally grown produce in K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals and other community agencies. As a part of this effort, a “Meet and Greet” event has been organized between local growers and food service directors from all over southwest Michigan. Food growers and producers are invited to promote their farm products to institutions and businesses, and food industry professionals from institutions, restaurants, etc., interested in purchasing local food products are invited to attend.

The Meet and Greet between local growers and food service professionals is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29, at the Lake Michigan College South Haven Campus on 125 Veterans Drive, South Haven, Mich. (view map), from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. This is a free and open to the public event, but pre-registration is requested. To register for this event as either a food provider or a food professional, please email Kendra Wills by November 18. For more information, contact Beth Clawson at 269-657-8213.

Information on farm-to-community programs and best practices for farmers and food service directors will be presented in addition to time for networking. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the local farm products available in our community and how to directly deal with local institutions.

This event is sponsored by the Michigan Farm-to-School program through C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University, Michigan State University Extension and Lake Michigan College.

Did you find this article useful?