Four Regional Cultivate Michigan Marketplace Events!

[MFIN]

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Join fellow farm to institution leaders for a meet-the-buyers style event in your region!  This series of exciting networking events provides an opportunity for local and regional food suppliers and institutional food service buyers to connect around local food.  How it works: It's a mix between speed-dating and a trade show!  These Cultivate Michigan Marketplace events are unique in that they focus on meeting the needs of institutional food service buyers. With a local host, each event is regional in scope and intended for institutional buyers and food suppliers of all scales. Buyers will be stationed at tables around the room, and suppliers will rotate to meet with buyers of their choice. Light refreshments will be provided along with plenty of time to mix and mingle! Who should participate? Institutional Food Service Buyers interested in purchasing local food products from local food vendors in their region. Suppliers interested in selling local foods to institutional food buyers in their region. Farmers, food hubs, processors and distributors of any scale are welcome.  Four Regional Events Four marketplace events will be held around the state this year. You can register to participate in any one or all of the regional events. The marketplace events are free for both buyers and food suppliers to attend, but space is limited and registration is required by the dates listed below. Petoskey - February 13 - Stafford's Perry Hotel - 4:00 - 6:00 PM Register by 5 PM Tuesday February 6 Local Hosts: Jen Schaap, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities & Sarah Eichberger, MSU Extension Ann Arbor - February 22 - Matthei Botanical Gardens - 4:00- 6:00 PM Register by 5 PM Thursday February 15 Local Host: Jae Gerhart, MSU Extension Flint - February 28 - Flint Farmers Market - 4:00 - 6:00 PM Register by 5 PM Tuesday February 21 Local Hosts: Erin Caudell, Flint Fresh Food Hub; Terry McLean and Julia Darnton, MSU Extension Grand Rapids - March 1 - Blandford Nature Center - 4:00 -6:00 PM Register by 5 PM Tuesday February 22 Local Host: Garrett Ziegler, MSU Extension This event is free to attend, but space is limited. Registration is required by the dates listed above! Contact info@cultivatemichigan.org with questions. REGISTER This series of Cultivate Michigan Marketplace Events  is brought to you with support from the USDA Farm to School Grant Program, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan Farm to Institution Network. Coordinators and hosts include the  MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, Ecology Center, MSU Extension, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, and The Flint Fresh Food Hub.  To learn more about Cultivate Michigan, visit cultivatemichigan.org.  STAY CONNECTED   About MFIN About Cultivate Michigan The Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN) is a space for learning, sharing and working together to get more local food to institutions. We aim to meet the Michigan Good Food Charter goal of 20% Michigan food to institutions by 2020. In 2014, MFIN launched a local food purchasing campaign designed to help ramp up farm to institution programs and track progress. Visit our website >> Visit our website >>

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MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.