Find fruit for your market with online tool

Joanne Davidhizar , Michigan State University Extension -

MarketMaker can aid in sourcing fruit for your market, many Michigan crops have been damaged by cold weather this year.

Many farm market operators will need to improvise to provide fruit to their customers in 2012 due to widespread freeze conditions.  The online tool, MarketMaker, can help identify growers who have fruit to sell in Michigan and 22 other states. 

MarketMaker is a web-based resource that provides links between producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, farmers’ markets, food service providers and end-consumers within the food supply chain. The site is available to all and is free.

The website provides a number of features for those looking for products.  Users can use the map and distance tool to search for the growers or marketers of particular crops within a geographical area.  A search can be broadened further by using the drop down menu to access MarketMaker websites of other states.  For example, front and center on the MarketMaker website, one can enter zip code 49079 for Paw Paw, and search farmers with apples within a 50-mile radius turning up 24 results. 

Both buyers and sellers can easily create profiles with location, contact information and items to market for this unusual and future growing seasons.

For further detail on food, agriculture, bio economy and natural resources business development, visit the Michigan State University Product Center website or call 517-432-8750.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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