With roots firmly embedded in the pro-health, pro-environment, and pro-economy principles of a local food system, the Groundwork Food and Farming team creates markets for local farmers, and helps connect locally grown food to school children, food pantry clients and families across the state.
While much of our work begins locally in northwest lower Michigan, one of our guiding missions is to inspire a statewide culture of healthy, locally raised food.
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Food & Farming News
New Farm to School Jobs Boosting Local Food Culture
ABOVE PHOTO: Some school food jobs now involve helping manage and teach classes in hoop houses. Pellston schools hoop house shown under construction. My first job in northwest Michigan was at a Montessori school. It was 2006, and I saw how four- and five-year-olds...
School Food Services Face Force of Nature
ABOVE PHOTO: Lunches for Detroit students packed for home delivery in early days of COVID. I remember a blizzardy day nine years ago when area farmers packed the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Leelanau County to hear area school food service...
Petoskey Schools Ramp Up Purchases From Local Farms!
Public Schools of Petoskey offers a shining example of how schools — and children — are becoming fans of the produce that local farms grow, providing increased sales. Consider this: in 2015 Petoskey Food Service Director Beth Kavanaugh tried farm-to-school...