Upper Peninsula Food Exchange
The U.P. Food Exchange (UPFE) is a Food Hub being led by both the Marquette Food Co-op and Taste the Local Difference. Along with working towards creating a successful local food model in the Central U.P., the organization also coordinates and encourages local food activities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, including region-wide support of other organizations and communities local food projects and facilitating a UPFE Food Policy Committee. UPFE serves as a resource portal for farmers, businesses, and individuals looking to connect with and actively participate in their local food system. https://upfoodexchange.com
Taste the Local Difference
Taste the Local Difference (TLD) serves the state of Michigan with their online local food and farm guides. In northern Michigan they publish a magazine that identifies local food throughout the Upper Peninsula and the northwest and northeast lower peninsula. In southeast Michigan their print guide covers 11 counties and several major cities including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing. https://www.localdifference.org/
The Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) was established in 1899 and serves as the hub for integrated crop and livestock research for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Applied research on pasture-based cattle management practices and cropping rotations is conducted in the unique environment of the U.P. Grass-based beef finishing, utilization of cover crops, hoophouse farming, season extension and soil health studies are keystone research elements on the farm. Outreach efforts focus on expanding knowledge of local food systems by educating producers and fostering market opportunities. https://www.canr.msu.edu/uprc/
Teachers might find the following resources useful:
Sustainable Agriculture Education Assignment Ideas
Land-Based Learning Centers: Sustainable Agriculture Education
Upper Peninsula Research & Extension Center
The Portage Heath Foundation's mission is to support the charitable health needs of the community through enhanced philanthropy and community collaboration. The Portage health Foundation's five pillars of emphasis guides meaningful investment in projects, programs, and services that meet the needs of the community and align with our mission of improving the health of residents in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. www.phfgive.org/
Portage Health Foundation
Michigan Local Food Council Network
The Michigan Local Food Council Network brings together food councils to build their individual and collective capacities to work on food and food policy issues, operate effectively, and engage their communities, through peer-to-peer learning. https://www.canr.msu.edu/local_food_council_network/
Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems values leveraging broad perspectives and disciplines to realize their vision. Their vision is a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the country, and the planet through food systems rooted in local regions and centered on Good Food: food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. https://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems
First Nations Development Institute
First Nations Development Institute is a nonprofit organization that assists Native American tribes, their communities, and Native nonprofits in economic development by providing technical assistance, training, policy, and the awarding of grants. https://www.firstnations.org/
Food First
The Institute for Food and Development Policy, better known as Food First, works to end the injustices that cause hunger through research, education and action. https://foodfirst.org/
La Via Campensina International Peasants Movement
La Via Campesina is an international movement bringing together millions of peasants, small and medium size farmers, landless people, rural women and youth, indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world. Built on a strong sense of unity, solidarity between these groups, it defends peasant agriculture for food sovereignty as a way to promote social justice and dignity and strongly opposes corporate driven agriculture that destroys social relations and nature. https://viacampesina.org/en/