Center for Regional Food Systems

What role has the Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN) played in linking Michigan institutions with local food and food suppliers?

Through 27 interviews, document review and secondary data analysis, this report documents the evolution and long-term impact of MFIN since its launch in 2014. It examines how the network’s strategies, structure, and participants have changed over time and offers suggestions for MFIN looking forward.

Coordinated by the Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), MFIN aims to support institutions in meeting the 2010 Michigan Good Food Charter goal that Michigan institutions will source 20 percent of their food products from Michigan growers, producers and processors by 2020.

MFIN has changed the culture of local procurement in Michigan by:

• Raising awareness about Michigan agriculture and the benefits of local sourcing
• Creating a community of practice that values local sourcing
• Educating stakeholders about how to communicate and collaborate with diverse sectors

Based on the themes that emerged in our analysis, several key takeaways may help MFIN chart out its future direction and serve as lessons for other emerging farm to institution networks in other states.

• MFIN membership has continued to grow each year since 2014. The MFIN listserv has grown dramatically since 2014; from 70 subscribers to over 600 by 2020.
• Having an “anchoring” organization and inclusive leadership approach has been key to MFIN’s success.
• MFIN’s “tiered” system of engagement (offering a range of opportunities and events that require different levels of involvement) has been instrumental to MFIN’s growth in membership.
• Interviewees shared suggestions of sectors that are not currently involved } with MFIN, or not engaged enough. The clearest theme, repeated by almost half (41%) of all interviewees is that MFIN has a “gap” in farmer participation.
• Unprompted, almost half (44%) of interviewees spoke about the challenges associated with data collection and measuring local sourcing progress. Many also discussed the unique challenges COVID-19 has posed for farm to institution efforts.
• MFIN’s more recent prioritization on diversity, equity and inclusion values has resonated with members. Moving forward, an effort to diversify MFIN membership and leadership should help expand its reach and impact.
• Some members appreciate the need to look beyond “local” to other values such as workforce/labor standards and sustainability practices. Looking ahead, MFIN may consider trying to find strategies for institutional buyers to balance competing priorities.
• MFIN should continue to engage with producers and buyers of various scales, while simultaneously addressing ways to support the unique challenges that small(er) scale producers and buyers face.
• It will be important to move beyond individual farm to institution “champions” towards more entrenched institutional policy that values local purchasing.
• Although interviewees felt like significant progress has been made with institutions sourcing local food, many also feel that Michigan still has a long way to go until local food becomes the “default” and a significant percentage of institutional food service budgets, necessitating the continuation of a network like MFIN.

[MFIN] has been a really powerful force in Michigan and is a really big reason why the state has been able to make strides in that area. Without it, I’m not sure who exactly will be leading that effort. Extension Educator

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Suggested Citation

Fink Shapiro, L., Hoey, L., Garcia, T., & Judelsohn, A. (2021.) The Michigan Farm to Institution Network Past, Present and Future. Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. http://canr.msu.edu/resources/the-michigan-farm-to-institution-network-past-present-and-future 

Comments or questions about this report can be directed to the lead author, Lilly Fink Shapiro, at finkshap@umich.edu or Michigan Farm to Institution Network Coordinator, Colleen Matts, at matts@msu.edu.