A People First Economy Initiative
Through our purchasing habits and business practices, the food system has the capacity to nourish our bodies, our planet, and our neighborhoods. It has the potential to be accessible, equitable, fair, healthy, diverse, and sustainable. To help Michigan work towards this goal, People First Economy has a few small steps you can take in your work life and home life that will promote positive change.
Grower
Fruit Ridge Market celebrates fruit and vegetable growers. Plug in as they highlight agrotourism opportunities.
Processor
Farmhaus Cider Co. makes sought after ciders on a 150 year old family farm in Michigan with a thirst for change and an ambition for better.
Distributor
Vivant Brewery & Spirits distributes beer across Michigan, building a sustainable community one beer at a time.
Retailer
Aldea Coffee is a B Corp coffee shop located in Grand Haven and Muskegon emphasizing quality and value in every interaction.
Consumer
Established in 1922, Fulton Street Market has connected farmers, food creators, and artists to the community for over 100 years.
Waste Management
WORMIES feeds food, farm, and yard waste to worms to produce castings—a high-quality, natural fertilizer and soil amendment.
Local Action. Global Impact.
Nourish Our Community amplifies the work of the 2022 Michigan Good Food Charter from the Center for Regional Food Systems. The 2022 Charter outlines a shared vision for a good food system in Michigan with six goals, six strategies, and 22 action recommendations. The Charter calls for systemic change by supporting food systems that ensure food is accessible to everyone, promote healthy communities, use fair and sustainable production methods, and support a diverse and equitable society.
In addition to organizations in Michigan, the Nourish Our Community initiative aligns with global efforts to create positive change. The Sustainable Development Goals are outlined by the United Nations Global Compact and recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. What are the SDGs?
Dig Deeper
Engage in Michigan’s Food Economy
Challenge yourself and/or your business with this game to take small actional steps that better Michigan’s good food future. Actions may include:
- Opportunities to shift your spending to local and values-aligned businesses
- Learning more about Michigan’s food economy
- Adjusting your supply chain to include Michigan suppliers
Right click to download the BINGO game. Share your progress on social media and be sure to tag @peoplefirsteconomy and @localfirstwestmi
Make Farmers Black Again
People of color are leading a resurgence of interest in farming in the Northeast, and yet for these farmers, the barriers to starting a farm remain high. Between lending discrimination and rising costs, many obstacles stand in the way of Black Americans looking to own farmland.
Check Out Episodes About The Food System
What It’s Like Being A Black Business Owner
Black business owners experience losses disproportionate from the average. In fact, while active business owners in general fell by a huge 3.3 million during this past year, the number of Black business owners fell by a staggering 41%. In our local food world, less than 2% of farmers are Black business owners, due to historical and ongoing systemic racism.
Eating For The Environment
Why do you buy locally-grown food? Is it the flavor and quality? The chance to build community connections and relationships? To support a strong local economy? To have a positive environmental impact? Most likely, it’s some combination of all of the above.
Reclaiming Food Sovereignty
Indigenous Foodways
The Anishinaabe are people of a particular place, as the Indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes. Our identities, histories, spirituality, and traditions are inseparable from our respective ancestral territories.
Nourish Our Community is powered by these generous partners:
Michigan Good Food Fund invests in food and farm entrepreneurs across the state, offering flexible financing and tailored business assistance that supports vibrant, equitable communities.
