Cultivate Michigan Meet the Buyers Event 2024

December 11, 2024

DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Contact: Garrett Ziegler, zieglerg@msu.edu

The Cultivate Michigan Meet the Buyers event is part of the annual 2023 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo (GLEXPO). It is an opportunity for GLEXPO attendees—farmers and food suppliers—to interact with regional buyers, including distributors, institutions, and retailers. 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. 

Farmers and Food Suppliers: 

Several resource providers will also be on hand to share information about current and forthcoming federal and state programs that will have resources and grants available. 

Institutional Food Buyers: 

Participation is open to local food buyers of all types and sizes, including institutions such as early care and education sites, public schools, universities and health systems. 10 Cents a Meal grantees are especially encouraged to attend. 

Who should participate? 

  • 10 Cents a Meal Grantees seeking local food to spend their 2023-24 grant awards, and schools and ECE sites interested in applying to participate in 10 Cents a Meal in the future. 
  • Other Local Food and Institutional Buyers (such as schools, hospitals, colleges, food distributors, food hubs, etc.) interested in purchasing local food products from farmers and vendors in their region. 
  • Food Suppliers interested in selling local foods to institutional food buyers in the region. 
  • Farmers, food hubs, processors and distributors of any scale are welcome. 

Registration information: 

  • Farmers, register at https://glexpo.com/register/#registration-form Farmers who register to attend GLEXPO will be able to attend the event on Wednesday, as part of their registration.    
  • Food buyers, registration is coming soon! There will be a separate registration from MFIN and Cultivate Michigan available for institutional and other food buyers. Stay tuned for more information. 

This event is brought to you by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network and the  Michigan Department of Education. Special thanks to the organizers of GLEXPO for continuing this popular event! This event is made possible through 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.   

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