Show MAEAP-verified pride through an affiliation with MarketMaker

Joanne Davidhizar, Michigan State University Extension -

Using MarketMaker can enhance producer visibility.

MAEAP-verified producers can enhance their visibility by making an affiliation using the online tool, MarketMaker.

MarketMaker is a web-based resource that provides links between producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, farmers markets, food service providers and end-consumers within the food supply chain. The site is available nationally and is free and available to all.

Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)-verified farmers are eligible to use a special affiliation designation in MarketMaker profiles for third-party environmental verification. The affiliation is a directory of operators who have made a voluntary effort to learn about and apply practices to manage environmental risks. Potential buyers of agricultural and forest products can easily identify such producers though this tool.

Like MarketMaker, MAEAP was started by farmers and partners to address an issue; in the case of MAEAP, environmental sustainability. Now in its 20th year, 2,300 verifications have been made in the categories of Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock, Forest, Wetlands and Habitat Systems according to the MAEAP website.

On the MarketMaker website, sellers can easily create profiles with their location, website, contact information and products available. Users can describe other enterprises such as retail markets, wineries and agri-tourism activities through additional profiles.

For further detail on MarketMaker, or to request business counseling from Michigan State University Extension staff on food, agriculture, bio economy and natural resources business development, contact the Michigan State University Product Center, or phone 517-432-8750.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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