Sowing the Seeds of Prosperity

Patty Cantrell, director of Michigan Land Use Institute’s Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project Courtesy: Michigan Land Use Institute

Eggs aren't just a way to kick-start the day. For the Michigan Land Use Institute's Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project, the incredible edible has become a foundation of a program to increase support for local and sustainable food.

In 2006, the farm-fresh eggs, fruit, and other staples made their way onto the plates at six new school districts. At the Frankfort-Elberta school district, participation in school breakfasts doubled when the ingredients changed.

The Farm-to-Cafeteria program was one of many remarkable achievements last year, says project director Patty Cantrell.

“Several of our programs have seen success. Most of the farmers in our local food guide have signed up again after seeing increases in business.”

Cantrell has begun to build on these successes in 2007, starting with the Seeds of Prosperity conference in February. “[The conference] put important policy perspectives on lawmakers' legislative plates,” she explains. Topics on the agenda ranged from grassroots local food efforts to recommendations of the Michigan Food Policy Council.

Also this year, the Taste the Local Difference team will continue developing a plan for how to implement a local food market system, ironing out details including storage and distribution sites.

If the interest from regional health system leaders, Head Start offices, community meal providers, and food banks is any measure, there will be no shortage of work for Michigan's chickens in the future.

“This is the type of challenge that drives our Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project: how to foster the networks and systems that will move more lovingly produced food to more people.”

Interested in learning more about the Michigan Land Use Institute or the Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project?
Click here to visit the Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project Web site.
Click here for the Taste the Local Difference local food guide for Northwest Michigan.

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