Center for Regional Food Systems Michigan Organic Farming Exchange

Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing

OFARM coordinates the efforts of producer marketing groups to benefit and sustain organic producers. In so doing, the agency intends to strengthen marketing programs by providing education, pricing and marketing information, and support communications. To become a member, join a marketing group already under the OFARM umbrella.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Resource Guide
CSA directly connects farmers and consumers to strengthen local food systems. It applies a production and marketing model whereby consumers buy shares of a farms’ harvest in advance. Members pay per growing season ($400-$700). By paying at the beginning of the season, CSA members share in the risk of production and relieve the farmer of much of the time needed for marketing. Membership fees can be paid in full or through a series of installments.

Michigan MarketMaker
Connecting willing markets and quality sources of food from farm and fisheries to fork in Michigan, the Michigan MarketMaker provides a link between producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, farmers’ markets, food service providers, and consumers. Register your farm with Michigan MarketMaker to communicate to potential buyers exactly what you produce and how you produce it. Allow customers to find you more easily with the search functions.

Michigan Food Hub Learning and Innovation Network
Food hubs facilitate the collection, storage, distribution and marketing of locally produced food. The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems created this network in collaboration with Morse Marketing Connections, LLC, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Read their Food Hub Information Sheet.

Organic Industry Structure: Acquisitions and Alliances
This Infographic, courtesy of MSU Associate Professor Philip H. Howard, shows the development of the USDA National Organic Standard in place of differing state/regional standards.

Growing for Market (GFM)
GFM’s trade publication was made for local food producers, helping market farmers (and gardeners) with the business of growing and selling vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, plants and herbs.

Wholesale Success
This workshop, from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, was initiated to help farmers achieve success in the wholesale marketplace. Wholesale Success program trainer Atina Diffley was featured, saying, “It’s important for local growers to add value to their products and differentiate themselves from large producers.” Watch the video to find out more.

Tilian Farm Development Center
Tilian is a new farm development center blossoming on 16 acres of land leased from like-minded Ann Arbor Township residents. In partnership with local farmers and surrounding community members, Tilian aims to build a prolific, secure, and vibrant foodshed in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It facilitates new business development to increase diverse production for annual markets.

Agritourism: Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Part of Rutgers’ “Sustainable Farming on the Urban Fringe,” this web portal provides fact sheets, webinars and other resources on generating supplemental income with commercial businesses at your farm.

Ag Decision Maker
Estimate the start-up cost of a value-added processing facility using this decision tool provided by the Iowa State Extension. And monitor your budgeted expenditures using the provided spreadsheet.