Are you looking for new markets for your organic fruit and veggies? Michael Chesley, Senior Produce Merchandiser from Sysco, food services of Detroit, is trying a new food purchasing program where organic growers sell to a corporate farmer who will sell to Sysco. They are interested in smaller quantities (single cases or even packets of specialty produce). Sysco will provide a list of produce created by participating organic farmers to restaurant chefs throughout Michigan. The chefs will pick what they want to order and Sysco will contact the farmers for the produce based on the list. Sysco will not pick-up individual deliveries but pickup can be arranged at central points throughout Michigan. As they pick up larger amounts of produce from near-by farms they will pick up a group of farmers' produce from a central point (near the group of farms). Payment will be made by the corporate farmer (aka broker). Michael indicated that they are willing to accept any price, as he put it, "price is not an issue"! If you are interested in participating in this market opportunity please email or call Vicki Morrone. I am interested in this opportunity for YOU. I am not the broker, just the person to compile the initial list for Sysco. I told Sysco I would not give out any farmer's info until a farmer indicated their interest. Please send me the following info if you want me to share it with Sysco. There is no commitment to putting your info on the list. As anyone knows mother nature is not 100% predictable. Where you are located, contact #, what products you have to offer, when they will be available (apx). what volume you anticipate to have to sell. Hope this may be helpful. Sincerely, Vicki Morrone Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resrouces Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax) If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html