Part 1.

MANY Events and News Articles about Organic Food and Production in Michigan-

It’s definitely harvest time in Michigan!!

 

Events

1. Is this the Future of Food? Saturday, Sept 9 9:00am-1pm

 

2. LOCAL FOOD WEEK, Sept 10-17, Grand Rapids, MI.

Farms Without Harm Food Fest –A Week of events in Grand Rapid

 

3. The Local FoodFarm Film Fest, Saturday, Sept. 16, 1-10 p.m.

 

4. Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival at Trillium Haven Farm Sunday, Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m.

 

5. Southwest Michigan Harvest Festival at Tiller's International. Sunday, September 17th 1-5 pm

 

6. Growing Connections Harvest Festival in Northern Oakland County. September 30th

 

7. Farmers' market brings local food to the Capitol lawn, Sept 14, Lansing, MI

 

8.      Harvest Festival at Michigan State University Student Organic Farm October 7, 1-5 pm.

9.      Organic Dairy Production Meeting -- Wednesday September 13 in Clare by Organic Valley

Articles that may be of interest

10. To Market to Market-Produce peddlers make the rounds in area as sites multiply

 

11. Brandon: Insights into feeding the world

 

12. AVIAN INFLUENZA:  HI PATH VERSUS LO PATH, Avian Influenza

 

13. Hull-less barley: An ethanol option?

 

14. Organic Food Database (OFDB)
    
    

 

 

 

 

EVENTS

1.  Is this the Future of Food?

Saturday, Sept 9 9:00am-1pm

MSU Campus- East Lansing, rmA101 PSS

 

Join Peak Hour Associates and Ecological Food & Farm Stewardship for a showing of the film "The Future of Food"

 

Followed by a panel discussion and dialogue on genetically modified foods.

European and African perspectives, the relationship to healthy eating, featuring Werner Absenger,chef/amacf.org/Jay Tomczak, Asst.Mgt. MSU Student Organic Farm, Fatoumatta Sisi of West Africa/ Cynthia Price, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Counsil, and Vancy Bown, Perspective Learning Associates.

 

cost $20/$10 for MSU faculty/$5 students (to cover speaker costs) light refreshments(using local food)

 

For more info call 231.780.4501 or email [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]

 

scholarships available.

 

the conference will be followed by a tour of the MSU Student Organic Farm

 

2. LOCAL FOOD WEEK, Sept 10-17, Grand Rapids, MI.

This is a new farmers’ market reaching

 

 The sixth annual ORGANIC FESTIVAL, this year presented by Mixed Greens ("Growing Kids Who Grow Gardens"), kicks off Local Food Week on Sunday, Sept. 10.  The event, to be held at Blandford Nature Center, will showcase organically raised food as well as clothing and other items, with opportunities to purchase from West Michigan vendors.  For more information about the GGRFSC, visit www.foodshed.net and for Farms Without Harm, visit www.farmswithoutharm.org. Local Food Week is a joint effort of the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, a collection of groups and individuals working together to create a sustainable and just food system in West Michigan sponsored by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, and Farms Without Harm, a network of groups, small farmers and concerned citizens that promotes safe, sustainable farming through public education.

The Local Food Farm Film Fest is part of Local Food Week, a series of events highlighting the importance of a strong and diverse local food system held in observance of the State of Michigan's designation of Sept. 14 as Buy Fresh Buy Local Select Michigan Day.   (600 minutes)

Farms Without Harm Food Fest –A Week of events in Grand Rapids

Organic Festival,  Sunday, Sept. 10 -- presented by Mixed Greens at the Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Avenue, NW in Grand Rapids. For details, call Mixed Greens at 301-3592. Admission is free.

 

A Preservation Party, Monday, Sept. 11

Learn how to can, freeze, or preserve by other methods garden and farm produce,sponsored by the GGRFSC, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Pearl at Division, Grand Rapids. Participants will make tomato-based foods and walk away with a canned product. Taught by Anne Sargent of Nourishing Ways of West Michigan. Cost is $5 to defray kitchen rental.

Reservations required - call Cynthia Price, 231-578-0873, or e-mail [log in to unmask]

 

Community Gardens Tour, Tuesday, Sept. 12, starting at 4 p.m. of several gardens in the growing Grand Rapids network, presented by the GGRFSC Community Gardens Committee and Mixed Greens. Meet at Mack's Garden next to the South East Community Association offices, 1408 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, to pick up a map and join a free, guided tour by caravan through the city. Featured will be Mixed Greens' rooftop garden at Martin Luther King School and the large Hillcrest Garden which started in 1974. Refreshments will be served around 6-6:30 at the Blandford Nature Center stop on the tour. For more information, call e-mail [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]

 

A Kids' Day Festival celebrating Buy Fresh Buy Local Select Michigan Day, Thursday, Sept. 14, 1-6 p.m. (may extend to 7 p.m.) -- at the Southeast Area Farmers Market, at the corner of Franklin Street and Fuller Avenue. Kids' activities, entertainment and take-home crafts all day long, as well as prepared foods and informational booths.

Free. The S.E. Area Farmers' Market is a joint project of Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, the Kent County Health Department, and Divine Grace Church, and takes place every Thursday from 1-6). For details, call Tom Cary 616-451-3051 ext. 28 or e-mail [log in to unmask]

 

Farmers' Market at Burton School. Thursday, Sept. 14

Sponsored by the YMCA. For information, call 616-855-9674 and ask for Beth.

 

Women's Farm Tour,  Friday, Sept. 15, sponsored by the West Michigan Forum for Sustainable Agriculture.  An afternoon tour of several area farms run by women.  Filmmaker Cynthia Vagnetti will join the tour.

For details, call Tom Cary at 616-451-3051 ext. 28 or email [log in to unmask]  Made possible by funding from the Nokomis Foundation.

3. The Local FoodFarm Film Fest, Saturday, Sept. 16, 1-10 p.m.

A day-long food-tasting and screening of films about food and farming presented by Farms Without Harm and GGRFSC at the Wealthy Theater, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids.  See below for a complete schedule of films. Admission is $10; $7 after 5 p.m. For details, call 616-558-6490 or email [log in to unmask].

1-2--Mini-Festival of Shorts including The True Cost of Food, The Meatrix I , The Meatrix II, Store Wars and The Pig Picture.

2:10-2:55--Frankensteer, an investigation of the dangers to human health posed by antibiotic- dependent, hormone-laced, feedlot-raised beef.

3--4:30--Voices from the Field, a film that looks at women farmers in the Midwest followed by a panel discussion featuring the film’s director Cynthia Vagnetti

4:35-5:35--Mini-Festival of Shorts (repeat - except Sierra Club's "Living a Nightmare" replaces "The True Cost of Food."

5:40-6:25--Deconstructing Supper, a film about a chef who investigates food safety in the age of GMOs and industrial agriculture.

6:30-7:15--Frankensteer (repeat)

7:30-10--ASPARAGUS (A Stalk-umentary), a screening of this 90-minute film followed by a discussion with the director, Kirsten Kelly.

 

 

4. Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival at Trillium Haven Farm Sunday, Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m. Taste 45 different heirloom tomatoes, and enjoy recipe tips from chef Amy Sherman. Cost is $20 per person.  Please make reservations by emailing [log in to unmask], or leaving a phone message at 457-5822.

 

Growing Connections is located in Davisburg at the 4-H county fair grounds.  Participate in workshops focused on healthy eating and organic foods.  There will be children’s activities and a farmers market!  For more information visit http://www.htnetwork.org/growingconnections.html.
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7. Farmers' market brings local food to the Capitol lawn

Sept 14, Lansing, MI

To celebrate the 2nd annual "Buy Fresh, Buy Local - Select Michigan Day" on September 14, 2006, local farmers are bringing Michigan agriculture right to Lansing's Capitol Hill.

At a special farmers' market on the lawn on the Capitol, farmers and farmers' market representatives from the Lansing area and beyond will sell a variety of Michigan-grown and produced products. This event, sponsored by Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), is intended to raise awareness about local food and Michigan's second largest economic engine: agriculture.

"Michigan's growing food and agriculture industry generates $60.1 billion every year for our economy," said Mitch Irwin, director of the MDA. "Selecting Michigan food keeps those dollars circulating in our communities, adding value to our family farms, and improving our quality of life."

The resolution to designate this statewide day passed through the House of Representatives on March 31, 2006 to encourage consumers to choose local food in their communities. Now, legislators, consumers and farmers are all invited to the Capitol Farmers' Market to experience the benefits of local food firsthand.

Products to be sold are all locally grown, processed and manufactured in Michigan communities and will include fruits, veggies, flowers, honey, eggs and even wool. And that's not even close to the full gamut of what Michigan, the second-most diverse state in the nation in agricultural goods, can produce.

Locally grown Michigan products are all around, if consumers know where to look. Farmers' markets are a great place to start, and with the number of Michigan Farmers' Markets at more than 150 and growing, it's getting easier.

"Farmers' markets put a face on local agriculture," said Elaine Brown, executive director of MIFFS. "Successful partnerships between farmers and communities are nurtured there, resulting in more profitable, environmentally friendly food systems."

 

Consumers and producers have the opportunity to meet, shake hands and appreciate where food comes from, where it goes, and all of the benefits it brings to Michigan communities. And those benefits are more than just better-tasting food.

Selling more Michigan fruits and vegetables fresh to local markets could increase net farm income up to 16 percent and generate as many as 1,889 new jobs, according to a new study, called Eat Fresh and Grow Jobs, by the Michigan Land Use Institute and the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems.

Local food tastes better, supports local farmers, keeps money circulating close to home and creates jobs. Get involved!  Visit a farmers' market or ask for local food at your grocery or favorite restaurant.

The Michigan Farmers' Market Association Web site (www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu) has a complete listing of farmers' markets statewide. You can also look at MDA's Farm Market, U-Pick and Ag Tourism directory for more than 255 venues (www.michigan.gov/mda).

A list of community events for the Select Michigan day, along with news releases, background and other information, is available at (www.miffs.org).

Founded in 1998, MIFFS is a statewide membership organization (501c3) whose purpose is to promote diverse efforts that foster and sustain food and farming systems that improve economic, ecological and social well-being. MIFFS has been effective at establishing successful partnerships among producers, markets and institutions that have created more profitable, environmentally friendly food systems in Michigan.

 

 

Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist

Michigan State University

C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems

303 Natural Resources Bldg.

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-353-3542

517-282-3557 (cell)

517-353-3834 (fax)

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