NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 16

Food and Farming network

Raising Awareness of Local Food
& Farming Through Photography
Contest highlights role
of local food in region
By Scott Smith
Local Food Alliance
of Northern Michigan
In 2011, the Petoskey-Harbor
Springs Area Community Foundation began its “Good Food Initiative.” One objective of the initiative
is to raise awareness about the contributions of local farms and food
to our community. Photography
seemed to be an ideal medium for
people of all ages to communicate
what they see as special about farms,
farming, and locally-grown food.
Now in its third year, the Farm to
Frame Photography Contest is raising awareness of the contributions of
local food and farming to the quality of life in Emmet and Charlevoix
counties. Nearly 180 photographs by
youth, amateurs, and professionals
have been exhibited, and more than
40 local businesses have provided
support.
The Crooked Tree Arts Center
and ISLAND expressed interest in
sponsoring Farm to Frame, and in
early 2012, PHSACF made a grant
to ISLAND to support contest costs.
Entries and awards were selected for
youth and open-age groups, and in
three categories: from the farm, from
the market, from the table. Farm to
Frame attracted contributions from
21 local businesses for prizes, framing and publication services, and
food for the opening reception.

Winning photos from the Farm to Frame Photography Contest were published in
the Edible Grand Traverse magazine. (Photo: ISLAND)

The contest is
raising awareness
of the contributions
of local food and
farming to the quality
of life in Emmet and
Charlevoix counties.
Local restaurant Palette Bistro
added its own award: an opportunity to display selected photographs
following the exhibit. Forty-three
photographs selected by the jurors were exhibited at CTAC in
November-December 2012. The
opening reception at which prizes
were awarded became an anchor for
a “local food