NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 39

2015 Report to the community Farm to Freezer: One Year later Program makes local food available all year By Mark Coe Farm to Freezer Farm to Freezer was talked about by a couple guys sitting on fivegallon buckets in late 2012. At some point the question was asked: “How can we extend the short growing season we have in northwest Michigan?” And from atop the other bucket came the response: “Well I have an idea…” It was a vision that would expand into a couple ideas covering the purchase of fruits and vegetables from local farmers to having those farmers grow more and different products than they normally would. The vision was born out a discussion between Brandon Seng and Mark Coe, and the idea was pitched to the board of Goodwill Northern Michigan, which embraced the concept. All of this is wrapped in a philosophy of changing lives. Goodwill’s Farm to Freezer program would also include job training and placement for unemployed and disadvantaged individuals. Today the program provides local fruits and vegetables to schools and institutions, and wholesales its product line to retailers directly. This allows the consumers in northwest Michigan to purchase high quality, healthy food, from Farm to Freezer provides local fruits and vegetables to schools and institutions, and wholesales its product line to retailers directly. (Photo: 9&10 News) 34 neighbor’s farms year round. The 2014 season saw growth from three to 16 farms providing fresh vegetables and fruit, expansion from three to eight school districts, and test sales from three Oleson stores to 19 retail locations. It grew from six products to 20 with ongoing testing for new ones. Farm to Freezer is currently working on an organic certification and has been developing an organic line to add to the program. Farm to Freezer has trained and placed 21 people in the 2014 season and has plans on expanding that in 2015. www.goodwillnmi.org/ food/farm-to-freezer Today the program provides local fruits and vegetables to schools and institutions, and wholesales its product line to retailers directly.