Michigan Contacts
Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA)
Amanda Shreve, Interim Director
Phone: (517) 432-3381
E-mail: amanda@mifma.org
To add resources or news to this page, please contact:
Marian Weaver
marian@farmersmarketcoalition.org
SNAP Info & Contacts
Program Name/EBT Card Name: Bridge Card
Current Contractor: Xerox State and Local Solutions, Inc. (Conduent)
Michigan Ag Department
Michigan Department of Agriculture
FMNP & SFMNP
WIC Farmer Market Nutrition Program
Brittany LaRue, FMNP Coordinator
Toll Free: 1-800-942-1636
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Ed Berke, Director
FAX: (517) 373-4092
Email: berkee@michigan.gov
or
Sherri King, SFMNP Contact
FAX: (517) 373-4092
Email: Kings1@michigan.gov
Michigan News/Case Studies
Standing Together Against Racism: Black Lives Matter
Stephanie Fenty June 3, 2020Over the past week, the United States has been shaken by the deep inequities rooted within our justice system that have continued to destroy the lives of Black Americans like George Floyd. In the past, the Farmers Market Coalition has largely remained silent on matters of race and injustice. We will do so no longer.… Read More
Growing Your Grassroots
Stephanie Fenty May 28, 2020The data that FMC has collected over the past decade and a half indicate what many suspect: farmers markets are important staples in our communities. Not only a place to buy fresh local produce, farmers markets serve as a place to connect with others and be reminded of the integral role food plays in our… Read More
Summit Debrief
Darlene Wolnik November 1, 2019The 2nd annual National Direct Agricultural Marketing Summit took place October 7-9, 2019 in Rosemont, Illinois. FMC hosted pre-Summit activities, including a state & network leader meeting, an emerging issues panel, and discussion groups on markets training and technical assistance needs. For the second year, Farmers Market Coalition gave its all for the Summit, including bringing the entire FMC… Read More
St. Louis, Michigan to Proclaim National Farmers Market Week
Allie Vrtachnik July 13, 2018by Allie Vrtachnik, FMC Program Associate | allie@farmersmarketcoalition.org Michigan’s St. Louis Farmers Market is getting the ball rolling for National Farmers Market Week (August 5-11) by securing a city-recognized proclamation! This will be the first time National Farmers Market Week is proclaimed in the city of St. Louis. As an FMC member, Market Manager Linda… Read More
From Coast to Coast: A Snapshot of the 2018 Farmers Market Poster Contest
Allie Vrtachnik May 25, 2018The 2018 National Farmers Market Poster Contest has come to a close, folks! The deadline for poster submissions was May 15th, but you still have till until May 31st to act as a judge for the Fan Favorite award. Your vote counts as a ‘like’ for your local market or favorite submission. Browse the contest… Read More
Free point of sale devices for accepting SNAP benefit payments delayed
Marian Weaver March 30, 2018At the March 6 and 7, 2018 Michigan Farmers Market Association Conference, Amanda Shreve the newly appointed Executive Director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association gave a presentation on the status of funding for free, wireless point of sale devices for farmers markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (a.k.a. Bridge Cards) as a form… Read More
Safe Use of Animal-Based Soil Amendments: FSMA Requirements and Best Practices
Marian Weaver March 16, 2018With new federal requirements for biological soil amendments of animal origin under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), MSU Extension and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are offering workshops on the safe use of animal-based soil amendments around the state. Check out the link to register:https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=D7209D84B7F262E0 Read More
MIFMA Food Access Webinar Series
Honesta Romberger March 2, 20182018 Food Access Webinar Series Each year, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) hosts a series of webinars focused on increasing food access at Michigan farmers markets. Farmers markets can accept food assistance benefits to create a win-win-win opportunity for their market, their vendors, and the health of their community. Accepting food assistance benefits can… Read More
MIFMA’s Market Management Mentorship Program
Marian Weaver February 16, 2018Are you a market manager that has experience accepting SNAP? Are you passionate about food access and supporting fellow managers? Apply to become a mentor in the 2018 Market Manager Mentorship Program today! Certified participating mentors can earn up to 8 professional development hours toward re-certification. Learn more & apply: http://mifma.org/mentorship/ Read More
MIFMA Offers a Market Management Webinar Series
Marian Weaver January 18, 2018Not able to participate in the full Market Manager Certificate Program, but still want to learn more about market management? You can register for individual webinars! This series of educational webinars for farmers market managers includes seven topics essential to market management. The first webinar, Avoiding Market Downfalls & Planning for Success, will be held… Read More
Deadline Extended – MIFMA 2018 Market Manager Certificate Program
Marian Weaver January 11, 2018The registration deadline for the 2018 Market Manager Certificate Program has been extended! Extended registration will close Sunday, January 14, 2018. Don’t wait, register today! www.mifma.org/mmcp/ #FarmersMarketsMI #MMCP2018 Read More
2018 Michigan Farmers Market Conference
Marian Weaver January 2, 2018The Michigan Farmers Market Conference is scheduled for March 5-7, 2018! The conference theme is “Cultivating Community at the Farmers Market” – check out the 2018 conference schedule here. Register today! Read More
A heartfelt thank you from Executive Director Dru Montri, as she prepares to leave MIFMA for a new role
Marian Weaver December 11, 2017For those who want the full story, please read on. For those who like to skim, please scroll to the bottom for the succinct version. Dear MIFMA members, partners, colleagues, friends and family, During this time of year, I always try to carve out some time and space for gratitude. It’s not always easy to… Read More
MIFMA Food Access Year-End Meetings
Marian Weaver October 30, 2017Each year, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) gathers with farmers market managers and partners who work to increase healthy food access through Michigan farmers markets. Join in these meetings to share the successes and challenges of these efforts and to learn what is on the horizon for food access initiatives at farmers markets in… Read More
Michigan Invests in Healthy Food Access Through Farmers Markets
Alex Canepa August 10, 2017The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) and farmers markets across Michigan that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as the SNAP Bridge Card have big a reason to celebrate! When Governor Snyder signed the 2018 fiscal year budget on July 14, the State of Michigan pledged support to help sustain and grow… Read More
Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Serving Up Honest & Healthy Transparency
Allie Vrtachnik June 1, 2017“The best way we’ve found to promote the markets is being able to tell a story around our vendors: how they are connected, where they started out, and why they sell at the market. We’re all about connecting customers to their food sources and creating honest learning relationships.” That’s Market Manager Gaby Gerken of the… Read More
Market Manager Certification Programs
Allie Vrtachnik January 11, 2017Market manager certificate programs offer curriculum establishing best practices while also polishing leadership, outreach, and funding skills. Through these programs, market managers broaden their professional credentials and take steps to personally impact future market funding and support. Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), currently has open registration for its 2017 Market Manager Certificate Program. The 35 hours… Read More
2016 FINI Grant Awardees Announced
Honesta Romberger June 10, 2016This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the awardees of $16.8 million in competitive grants to help SNAP (formally food stamps) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food… Read More
**Updated** Congratulations to FMC Member FMPP and FMSSG Awardees!
Liz Comiskey October 9, 2015The awardees of the 2015 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and the first ever Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants (FMSSG) were announced last week! Check out all of the FMC members that were awarded below. Many FMC members will also benefit from grant projects within their community networks; you… Read More
FMC Welcomes New Board Members!
Liz Comiskey June 11, 2015The Farmers Market Coalition members recently elected four new board members, and also re-elected Monika Roth to the Farmers Market Coalition Board of Directors. Christie Balch Executive Director, Crossroads Community Food Network Takoma Park, MD Number of Years in the Farmers Market Field: 8 Christie Balch is the Executive Director of the Crossroads Community Food… Read More
FMC Supports the 2014 Farm Bill
Jen O'Brien January 29, 2014Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) joins fellow local food advocates in reluctantly supporting this bipartisan Farm Bill. There are a number of aspects of the pending bill that hurt SNAP families and very unfortunately, remove the sound language in the core legislation on payment limits for large farmers. Despite these issues, the bill offers substantial support… Read More
Farmers Market Hero: Heather Anne Leavitt
Jen O'Brien December 12, 2013While connections are often drawn between food and art, Heather Anne Leavitt takes the connection a step farther. An avid farmers market shopper, Heather, owner of Sweet Heather Anne bakery, merges her passion for local food and her love of art in the Sweet Heather Anne kitchen every day, creating masterpiece cakes featuring locally sourced… Read More
Temperatures and Markets are Up!
Liz Comiskey July 29, 2013Hello FMC Supporters, Despite the extreme heat that affected most of the country this month, people have been flocking to their local markets this summer. FMC’s members and supporters have shared amazing photos of the gorgeous produce, delicious prepared foods and many smiling (if sweaty) faces at their markets. These photos and stories have served… Read More
WIC FMNP: A Win-Win for Families and Farmers
Liz Comiskey July 28, 2013The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides low-income young and expecting mothers an incentive to access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables at farmers markets while reinvesting government dollars into local economies and providing crucial revenue to small farmers. In 2012, the program cost-effectively provided fresh produce to more than… Read More
Fundraising Success: Hemlock Farmers Market Raises a Barn
Liz Comiskey July 24, 2013By Emily Finn, Research and Education Intern In many ways, the Hemlock Farmers Market (HFM) in Hemlock, Michigan looks much like many other farmers markets across the US – a vital part of a small community; designed to support area producers and to provide healthier options for its residents; changing and growing from year to… Read More
2013 Discover You Can Participants Announced
Liz Comiskey April 26, 2013We are excited to announce the winners of the 2013 Discover You Can Learn Make Share℠ program. Thirty FMC member farmers market organizations have been selected by the Farmers Market Coalition and Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® Brand Fresh Preserving Products, to take part in this summer’s canning education program. The selected 30 organizations… Read More
More than 200 organizations participate in Farmers Market Promotion Program Grantee Survey
Liz Comiskey February 15, 2013by Stacy Miller, Project Director Since the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) first issued grants under the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), 575 projects have been awarded in all fifty states, totaling $32,310,288 in funding. In what ways has the program contributed to stronger, healthier, more innovative and inclusive food systems? As reported in the… Read More
