Benton Harbor Farmer & Food Business Listening Session

March 16, 2026 9:30AM - 1:00PM

Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, 376 W. Main Street, Suite 130, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Contact: MDARD Farm to Family Program: Elena Aleman, MDARD, AlemanE1@michigan.gov, BHFM Feasibility Study: Michelle DiMuzio, NVA, michelle@newventureadvisors.net

Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), in partnership with the United Way of Southwest Michigan, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market (BHFM), and the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission (SWMPC) are hosting a regional Listening Session event for farmers, producers, and food businesses in Southwest Michigan. 

On Monday, March 16th, from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm (coffee and lunch included), we invite you to join us at the SWMPC office in Benton Harbor, MI, for this interactive event designed to collect feedback that will shape future MDARD funding opportunities and provide direct input into an active study on new opportunities at the Benton Harbor Fruit Market (BHFM). Learn more about the study (here).

Why Join Us?

This event is an opportunity for all of our teams to hear directly from you about:

  1. Challenges and opportunities in getting Michigan-grown food products to market
  2. Future grant and technical assistance opportunities from MDARD's Farm to Family Program
  3. Ideas on how a potential Farm Hub at the Benton Harbor Fruit Market could best support regional farms, food businesses, and community access to fresh produce.

Event Information

  • DATE: Monday, March 16, 2026
  • LOCATION: Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, 376 W. Main Street, Suite 130, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
  • TIME: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm, lunch will be provided

If you’d like to join us, please complete this brief registration form (CLICK HERE).  Your responses will help us prepare for the event and better understand who will attend. 

If you aren’t able to join us, please consider completing this farm and food business survey to support the BHFM study (CLICK HERE to access the online survey)

We are looking forward to this great opportunity to gather farmers and food businesses to help shape opportunities - we hope that you will be able to join us!

For questions or additional information on the event, please contact:

Register

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