Registration open! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace in Kalamazoo on January 12

Monday, November 14, 2022

Registration open! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace in Kalamazoo on January 12

Cultivate Michigan Marketplace in Kalamazoo, MI on January 12

Join this networking event for local and regional food suppliers and institutional food service buyers to connect around local food!

Who should participate?

Institutional Food Service Buyers of all scales (such as small early care and education sites, schools, colleges, hospitals, etc.) interested in purchasing local food products from farmers and vendors in their region.

10 Cents a Meal Grantees seeking local food to spend their 2022-23 grant awards, and schools and ECE sites interested in applying to participate in 10 Cents a Meal in the future.

Farms and food businesses of all scales interested in selling local foods to institutional food buyers in the region and who can meet the demands of different types of food service programs. Not all institutions use products developed by makers (ex. pre-made desserts, canned salsa), so it is important to consider if your products are right for a Marketplace event.

How the event works:

It’s a mix between speed-dating and a trade show! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace events are unique because they focus on meeting the needs of institutional food service buyers. Each event is regional in scope and intended for institutional buyers and food suppliers of all scales. Institutional 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!

Participation is open to institutions of all types, and 10 Cents grants – both schools and ECE sites – in the West Michigan area are especially encouraged to attend this free event.

When:

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 12th, 2023

Where:

KVCC Culinary and Allied Health Building: 418 E Walnut St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Register to participate by Friday, December 30th. It is free for both institutional buyers and food suppliers to attend, but space is limited and registration is required.

This event is brought to you by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, Michigan Department of Education and local hosts MSU Extension Community Food Systems and Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) ValleyHUB. This event is made possible through a MDARD Specialty Crop Block Grant and generous funding from the W.K .Kellogg Foundation. The Michigan Farm to Institution Network is coordinated by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems with support from MSU Extension.