The Western UP Food Systems Collaborative (WUPFSC) is proud to share our 2nd annual report. The report features artwork, photographs, and summaries celebrating the collective’s work in 2020.
Highlights include native plant restoration at Sand Point, creation of a seed library, educational and outreach efforts, networking for regional growers, support for new and continued community and school gardens, expansion of Double Up Food Bucks and SNAP access at the Calumet Farmers Market, a grassroots mutual aid food and knowledge sharing effort, and continued research and study of local food system needs. The new modes of connection and care prioritized in the past year have taught us a lot about health and justice in our food systems and inspired many creative and strategic local efforts.
Food is a powerful mode of connection, offering us a way to heal, share, and celebrate together the abundance of our region. As we begin to plan for the 2021 growing season, we look forward to another year growing food and our network. We each have contributions to make to strengthen the health of our community food systems, and we look forward to continuing to build upon our shared work and to connect with new partners.
We thank the contributions of all our partners, including Western UP Food Systems Collaborative, Western UP Planning and Development Region, Michigan Technological University, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community - Natural Resources Department, Portage Health Foundation, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan State University Extension, Taste the Local Difference, Portage Lake Seed Library , Queen City Seed Library, University of Wisconsin Extension, Michigan Sea Grant, Keweenaw Co-op, U.P. Food Exchange, and the Michigan Local Food Council Network, and especially all of our local growers, gardeners, farmers, foragers, fishers, farmers markets, teachers, and local businesses whose work and support are essential to the health of our community food systems.
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