There’s still time to participate - workforce assessment of Michigan food system

The survey is open through May 17 - don't miss out!

What will it take to grow Michigan's local and regional food system workforce? Please take the 15-20 minute survey. We are studying workforce needs where food is grown, processed, distributed, sold, and consumed in Michigan markets - as well as the organizations that support this system. We need to connect with employers, workers, educators, training providers, and other stakeholders in Michigan’s local and regional food system. We are studying: the types and wage ranges of existing and future jobs employer demand for these jobs what skills, education, and training is needed to perform these jobs The survey and interviews are happening now through midnight, May 17. Se ofrece la encuesta en Español. Here are 5 ways to help: Share your data and information Take the survey Let others know to contact us Send ideas for who to contact or data to include Volunteer to participate in an interview If you can do any of the above, or are curious to learn more, please visit: http://foodsystems.msu.edu/MiFoodWorkforce If you have already taken or shared the survey, thank you very much! Share the study on social media! How can Michigan grow its local and regional food #workforce? A workforce assessment is underway to find out. Please participate and spread the word. foodsystems.msu.edu/MiFoodWorkforce People are vital to Michigan’s food system. Please help us understand how Michigan’s local and regional food system workforce is working and what it needs to grow. foodsystems.msu.edu/MiFoodWorkforce Visit our media kit for social media images and more suggested posts. This work is a collaboration between MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, MSU Extension, and the Corporation for Skilled Workforce. It is funded in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS ‌ ‌ ‌ FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to one or more of the following listservs: FOODSPEAK, MIDMICHIGANFOOD, MIFARMTOSCHOOL, MIFOODHUB, MIFOODCOUNCIL. Please note that if you unsubscribe from this mailing, you will be removed from the listserv(s).

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Upcoming Cultivate Michigan Tour

The Michigan Farm to Institution Network and MSU Extension are excited to announce an opportunity to tour Revolution Farms and Van Eerden Foodservice Distributor. Revolution Farms opened in Fall of 2018 and is the largest commercial aquaponics operation in Michigan. They sell several varieties of lettuce for both retail and wholesale markets and are interested in connecting with local institutions to supply their food service operations. 

Registration Link

Cost: $20 Registration Fee (includes lunch)

The tour schedule will be as follows:

• 10 a.m.: Meet at Revolution Farms for event introduction and tour of greenhouse and aquaponics facility (2900 76th St, Caledonia, MI 49316)
• 11:30 a.m.: Travel from Revolution Farms to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market (435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
• 12 p.m.: Lunch at the Downtown Market (Lunch will be provided from Tacos el Cunado)
• 1:15 p.m.: Reconvene at the Market and walk to Van Eerden (650 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, 1 block from Market)
• 1:30 p.m.: Tour Van Eerden Distribution Facility
• 3 p.m.: Tour Ends

Transportation will not be provided as part of this tour, so carpooling is encouraged where appropriate.

This tour is organized by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network and MSU Extension. 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. Through the network, we host a statewide local food purchasing campaign, called Cultivate Michigan, to help Farm to Institution programs grow and track their progress.

About Revolution Farms:
Just off a quiet country road in Caledonia, Michigan, we've created the ideal indoor environment where produce and fish can thrive. Inside the facility is a 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art greenhouse and 35,000 square foot aquaculture and packing house that make up a sophisticated aquaponics system.

Our balanced ecosystem protects and nourishes our crops in all seasons, producing a year-round harvest. That's about 350,000-450,000 pounds of produce and 35,000-45,000 pounds of tilapia every year! 

By blending technology and biology, our facility harnesses natural light and automatically adjusts temperature, wind, shade, and carbon dioxide, fine-tuning our produce to perfection.

About Van Eerden Foodservice:
Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Van Eerden Foodservice still remains focused on the business principles and values first established by Andrew Van Eerden back in 1920. Committed to a philosophy of "Service First", Van Eerden Foodservice looks at situations from the customer's point of view, understanding that real solutions will provide the customer with what they need to succeed in their business.

Registration Link

Cultivate Michigan Revolution Farms and Van Eerden Tour Join the Michigan Farm to Institution Network as we host a Cultivate Michigan 2019 Featured Foods Tour. events.anr.msu.edu

If you have any questions about the tour please reach out to Garrett Ziegler with MSU Extension @ zieglerg@msu.edu.

Garrett Ziegler

Community Food Systems and Sustainable Tourism Educator

MSU Extension, Community, Food and Environment Institute

MSU Extension at the Downtown Market

109 Logan St. SW

Suite B102

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Office: 616.608.7436

Cell: 814.777.3562

zieglerg@msu.edu

https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/

 

Michigan State University Extension programs and

materials are open to all withought regard to race,

color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion,

age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual

orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status

Take the survey now - workforce assessment of Michigan food system

Please help us spread the word.

What will it take to keep Michigan’s good food workforce growing? Please tell us what you think! Survey is now open.  Starting today, we are doing a survey and interviews that focus specifically on the portion of the Michigan food system where good food is grown, processed, distributed, sold, and consumed in Michigan markets, as well as the organizations that support this system. Please take the survey and share it with others! Se ofrece la encuesta en Español. We are doing this workforce assessment research because foods grown and processed in Michigan are vital to Michigan’s economy and workforce, and Michigan good food is becoming even more important to the state’s economy. But what we don’t know is: What will it take to keep Michigan’s good food workforce growing? We are studying: the types and wage ranges of existing and future jobs employer demand for these jobs what skills, education, and training is needed to perform these jobs The survey and interviews are happening now through midnight, May 17. Se ofrece la encuesta en Español. For more details about this research, please visit the project webpage. Can you help us? We need to connect with employers, workers, educators, training providers, and other stakeholders in Michigan’s local and regional food system. Here are 5 ways to help: Share your data and information Take the survey Let others know to contact us Send ideas for who to contact or data to include Volunteer to participate in an interview If you can do any of the above, or are curious to learn more, please visit: http://foodsystems.msu.edu/michigan-food-workforce Thank you in advance for your help! Questions? Contact Jeannine La Prad, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, at MiFoodWorkforce@skilledwork.org Share the study on social media! How can Michigan grow its good food #workforce? A good food workforce assessment is underway to find out. Please participate and spread the word foodsystems.msu.edu/MiFoodWorkforce Michigan needs a good #workforce for a #goodfood system. What will it take to get there? Take the survey, volunteer for an interview, or share ideas at: foodsystems.msu.edu/MiFoodWorkforce Visit our media kit for social media images and more suggested posts. This work is a collaboration between MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, MSU Extension, and the Corporation for Skilled Workforce. It is funded in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Michigan Good Food Charter describes the importance of “good food” produced and processed in Michigan - food that is that healthy, sustainable, affordable, and pays a livable wage across the supply chain. EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS ‌ ‌ ‌ FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems | 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824 Unsubscribe matts11.pikabo@blogger.com About our service provider Sent by crfs@msu.edu in collaboration with Try it free today