{"id":624,"date":"2024-05-19T03:08:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T03:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fairfoodnetwork.org\/2024impact\/?p=624"},"modified":"2025-03-13T06:57:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T06:57:07","slug":"lakeshore-depot-michigan-farm-to-freezer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fairfoodnetwork.org\/2024impact\/lakeshore-depot-michigan-farm-to-freezer\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting Farmers and Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Highlight<\/p>\n

\n\t\tConnecting Farmers and Communities\n\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\"fnn-michigan-darkgreen\"\n\t

Michigan<\/p>\n\t

With strawberries ubiquitous on supermarket shelves even in January, we tend to think of warm-weather states providing America’s fruit and vegetable bounty. A little-known fact is that Michigan, even with its northerly latitude and long winters, has the second most diverse agricultural output in the United States, offering more than 300 different commodities from more than 50,000 farms dotting the landscape from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula.<\/p>\n\t

Our Fair Food Fund bolsters local food systems by supporting Michigan farmers in getting their produce to market, creating networks and partnerships that strengthen the needed infrastructure connecting communities to farmers and the abundance grown all around them. Fair Food Fund’s financing and technical assistance allowed two such enterprises, Great Lakes Farm to Freezer<\/b><\/a> and Lakeshore Depot<\/b><\/a>, the opportunity to bring more locally grown food to the communities where they live and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Great Lakes Farm to Freezer is a West Michigan processor distributing frozen produce exclusively sourced from Michigan farms to institutions, businesses, and families. Great Lakes Farm to Freezer’s commitment to supporting local agriculture includes offering local growers two and three times what other processors pay. A Fair Food Fund loan enabled the company to equip and outfit a new facility in Caledonia, Mich. that will support increased capacity for in-house production and enhance Great Lakes Farm to Freezer’s potential for expansion throughout the Great Lakes region.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Farther north, in the largely rural Upper Peninsula community of Marquette, Mich., Lakeshore Depot serves as a “farm stop” (a hybrid grocery store\/farmers market) that exclusively features local and regional foods and seasonal, fresh produce. Lakeshore Depot currently sources from 48 local farmers – who receive 75% of the sale of their produce – and an additional 38 local food vendors. Fair Food Fund’s microloan in 2023 helped to prepare Lakeshore Depot for future financing that will support their long-term growth plan, including hiring a full-time manager and increasing product selection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even as these businesses broaden their offerings and expand their reach, they remain committed to their communities. Said Lakeshore Depot founder and owner, Mike Hainstock: “I wanted the store to have an impact felt throughout our local community, one that our community as a whole is excited about and carries real and positive change moving into the future.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Highlight Connecting Farmers and Communities Michigan With strawberries ubiquitous on supermarket shelves even in January, we tend to think of warm-weather states providing America’s fruit and vegetable bounty. A little-known…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":627,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-impact-investing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nConnecting Farmers and Communities - Fair Food Network 2024 Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fair Food Fund bolsters local food systems by supporting Michigan farmers in getting their produce to market. 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