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Nearly $200,000 in federal grant dollars will go to local farmers market efforts

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The season of giving started a little early this year for two local farmers markets groups.

The Michigan Farmers Market Association in East Lansing and the Allen Neighborhood Center on Lansing’s East side, received grants totaling $190,038 from the Local Food Promotion Program in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Buying local is a win for our economy, a win for Michigan agriculture and a win for consumers who will have better access to local food choices,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

In 2014 Stabenow supported expanding the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program in the Farm Bill, which was signed into law by President Obama. The programs support the growth of community-based agriculture programs, the expansion of farmers markets, and direct producer-to-consumer marketing.

The Michigan Farmers Market Association will receive $99,660 and will use the money to expand the Market Management Certificate Program. The association works with and for market organizers, managers, farmers, and vendors to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products. In the last decade, the number of farmers markets in Michigan has grown from around 90 in 2001 to more than 300 today, the group says.

“Our Market Management Certificate Program is the only program in the country to certify market managers as professionally trained,” said Programs and Partnerships Manager, Amanda Shreve. “ We will also develop a farmers market manager mentorship programs so that mentors can closely with work with new managers.”

The certification program started in 2011, and as of February 2014 has certified more than 100 marketing managers.

“The grant will allow us to improve farmers markets and consumers will have greater access to quality products, “ Shreve said. “From our standpoint this is really great to be able to commit to our community.”

Shreve said the grant would also enable the association to invest more in strategic planning and to create goals through 2020.

The amount of $90,378 was awarded to the Allen Neighborhood Center, a non-profit community development agency that has been around for 15 years.

The funding will support the winter farmers market, Hunter Park Garden-House Community Supported Agriculture, and Allen Market Place Kitchen projects.

“The winter farmers market is a seasonal, indoor market that has been around for over a decade. The grant will allow us to expand our market from mid- October to mid-May to ensure a year-round venue in the recently opened Allen Market Place for direct farmer-to-consumer sales and access to locally grown produce and other food products by residents,” said Joan Nelson, executive director of the center.

The Hunter Park Garden-House CSA will increase membership and involve more farmers. CSA enables consumers to purchase locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, dairy products and bread.

The Allen Market Place Kitchen projects will provide growers and food entrepreneurs with affordable access to its licensed kitchen to encourage production of salable, value-added products.

Nelson said she is pleased to know that small farmers will benefit from their expansion as well as being able to ensure that people will have a place to buy locally grown products throughout the year.

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