Resources for Farmers, Producers, and Food Business Owners
The following resources, webinars, and guides were developed for food and farm businesses as part of the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center. Though USDA Regional Food Business Centers program has ended, these resources will remain freely available.
To continue working towards transformational food systems change, many of the original partners are collaborating through the Great Lakes Partnership for Food and Farm Development. Learn more about this partnership here,
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Webinars: Sustaining Your Food Business During the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
Published on March 30, 2020
These webinars from the Michigan Good Food Fund overview strategies and tips for sustaining your food business and assessing your cash flow in this rapidly changing environment. -
Bulletin E-3407: How to Motivate Your Lender to Say, “Yes”
Published on July 31, 2019
A bulletin by MSU Extension's Beginning Farmer DEMaND Series with suggestions to help beginning farmer understand the lending process in order to obtain farm financing. -
Have You Tried Weekly Retail Replenishment?: A Guide for Small Meat Plants
Published on January 19, 2018
This resource focuses on improving profitability in small and very small meat plants by managing retail inventory more effectively. -
A Case for Daily Slaughter in Small Meat Plants
Published on August 9, 2017
This brief discusses the merits of daily slaughter to aid small meat plants into increased sales and profitability. -
Beyond the Numbers, Food Business Decision Making Series: Buying or Leasing a Food Hub Truck
Published on August 9, 2017
This guide presents the pros and cons of a food hub buying or leasing a truck for distribution.
Per the USDA announcement on July 15, 2025, the Regional Food Business Centers program was terminated, prior to its original end date of July 2028. Because of this, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center halted operations on September 15, 2025 and was unable to responsibly launch the Business Builder Subaward and assistance programs. Please see our related press release. Resources intended to help food and farm businesses will remain freely available on this website and additional resources can be found at foodsystems.msu.edu/resources.
Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center came from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program. The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers supported all 50 U.S. States and Territories, and were inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.
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