NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 13

2015 Report to the community

Cherry Capital Foods and the
Michigan Good Food Charter
CCF only buys and sells
Michigan products
By Evan Smith
Cherry Capital Foods
During the earliest days of Cherry
Capital Foods, unbeknownst to us,
we’d already begun working toward
the goals and objectives of the Michigan Good Food Charter (MGFC).
This was long before a more mature
CCF signed the Resolution of Support in 2010.
What the six main goals of the
MGFC have given us are quantifiable measurements we can use to
gauge our progress towards a vision
of a resilient and socially just food
system based on local jobs and communities producing good food for
everyone.
The challenges of establishing
some of the measurable baselines
notwithstanding, we have ample
evidence to indicate progress towards
these goals in the data that we do
have. As a company that only buys
and sells products that are grown
or produced within the borders of
Michigan, we believe our growth
presents measurable evidence of a

Embracing the
vision and goals
of the MGFC is a
wise choice and
good business.

Sales growth at Cherry Capital Foods has averaged more than 50 percent per
year from 2011 to 2014. (Photo: Cherry Capital Foods)

fundamental change
that is taking place as
we strive toward these
goals.
For an example of
this progress, look at
the second goal of the
MGFC: that Michigan farmers will
profitably supply 20 percent of the
food purchases in Michigan while
providing fair wages to all workers.
Through our vendor selection process we actively engage our suppliers
for information about their business
practices and certifications. We work
together to be sure efforts are being
made that support fair and ethical
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treatment for animals
and workers alike.
In raw numbers, the
sales growth of Cherry
Capital foods has averaged over 50 percent per
year from 2011 through
2014. This represents almost $3 million additional dollars of food that
was grown and produced in Michigan that stayed in Michigan. Within
these numbers are numerous stories
of new farms, expanded farms, and
better food choices. Embracing the
vision and goals of the MGFC is a
wise choice and good business.
www.cherrycapitalfoods.com