Farmers, learn more about how to sell to schools

Monday, November 28, 2022

Farmers, learn more about how to sell to schools

Farm to School Producer Training on December 8 in Grand Rapids

Salad bar with orange carrots and green broccoli

Bringing the Farm to School: A Training for Agricultural Producers to Sell to School Markets

Farmers, this education opportunity for farmers is designed to provide the training and tools to build your capacity to launch or grow efforts to market to schools.

The trainers will cover the following topics:

The Power of Farm to School - an introduction to its benefits

Getting to Know School Markets - a review of Child Nutrition Programs and Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal local food incentive program for K-12 schools, child care centers, and other non-school sponsors

Selling to School Markets – different market channels and understanding and responding to solicitations

Choosing the Right Products to Sell to Schools - school needs for food products, pricing for school markets, and understanding costs of production

Growing for Schools – meeting demand from school markets, opportunities for different types of food products (fresh, minimally-processed products, etc.), and a producer spotlight

Navigating Food Safety Standards When Selling to Schools – resources to help

Planning for Action – how to take what you’ve learned and put it into action

This day-long training is part of the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo (GLEXPO) on Thursday, December 8th. Whether you’re in Michigan or in surrounding Great Lakes states, join us to learn more about engaging in this growing market opportunity!

WHEN: Thursday, December 8th from 8 am – 5 pm

WHERE: Great Lakes Fruit Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids

REGISTRATION FEE: $65 for single-day (Thursday) registration for this training, or $115 to attend all three days of GLEXPO from December 6 – 8. On-site registration is available.

Thanks to our partners at GLEXPO for hosting this training opportunity! This training is coordinated by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, led by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems with support from MSU Extension. Training partners include staff members from the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development.

The calendar of farm to institution-related events is filling up!

Join us for the events that are right for you.

Virtual Farmer Workshop: Bringing the Farm to Early Care and Education

Producers, learn how to sell to early care and education (ECE) settings, such as preschools and child care settings.

When: December 13, 2022 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Where: Virtual event

Registration Fee: This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Hosted by the Michigan Farm to ECE Network

ValleyHUB Summit in Kalamazoo

This event will bring together current and prospective ValleyHUB food hub partners –farmers, institutional customers and more– to meet and learn relevant information around food safety, procurement, funding and more.

When: January 12, 2023 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: Kalamazoo Valley Community College Texas Township Campus, Kalamazoo, MI

Registration Fee: $10

Hosted by KVCC ValleyHUB in partnership with MSU Extension and Fresh Systems, LLC

Cultivate Michigan Marketplace Kalamazoo

Connect through local food at this networking event for institutional food service buyers, farmers, and food suppliers (food hubs, distributors, etc.).

When: January 12, 2023 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Where: Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) Culinary and Allied Health Building, Kalamazoo, MI

Registration Fee: This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Hosted by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, MSU Extension and KVCC ValleyHUB

*Please note that more Cultivate Michigan Marketplace events will be scheduled in early 2023, so please stay tuned for more events coming to a region near you in early 2023!