The Michigan Good Food Charter is a guide for creating and sustaining good food systems rooted in Michigan communities.

Read the Charter

Charter Logo - Long-Clr

A Vision for Michigan’s Food Systems

Michigan has a thriving food economy distinguished by equity, health, and sustainability.

To achieve this vision, we need systemic change. Michigan food systems should:

  • ensure food is accessible to everyone,
  • promote healthy communities,
  • use fair and sustainable production methods, and
  • support a diverse and equitable society.

Want to stay informed about the Michigan Good Food Charter? Sign up to receive communications in your inbox.

Sign up for Charter communications

If you are looking for ways to get involved, consider signing up for one of the Michigan Good Food Charter committees to support the implementation of Charter activities through coalition-building and coordinated policy action efforts. 

Join a Charter Committee

Our Goals

To address the complex challenges of the food system, we have identified six interconnected goals describing the results we want to see in our communities. 

  1. Food Access to Food Sovereignty: Everyone has the resources to access and afford healthy, culturally relevant food where they live, work, learn, and play and the ability to shape the food systems that impact them.
  2. Farm and Food Business Viability: The food system supports a dynamic mix of local, regional, national, and global food sources that offer opportunities for small-scale and marginalized Michigan farm and food businesses to thrive.
  3. Health Equity: The food system supports opportunities for everyone to be as healthy as possible, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
  4. Fair Wages and Economic Opportunity: People who plant, harvest, process, pack, transport, prepare, serve, and sell food have access to living wages, benefits, safe work environments, and pathways for career advancement and leadership.
  5. Sustainable Ecosystems: The food system protects air, water, and soil now and for future generations.
  6. Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience: Communities are resilient in the face of climate change and the food system actively mitigates its impact on the climate.

How can we use the Charter?

The Michigan Good Food Charter is a tool for collaborative communication, advocacy, and evaluation. We can use it to:

  • Explore ideas that advance a good food system in Michigan
  • Identify common ground for collaboration within and across sectors
  • Build action coalitions around food systems policy change
  • Inform policymakers of statewide and local priorities
  • Organize shared measurement for greater impacts

Michigan Good Food

Center for Regional Food Systems

  • follow us on youtube
  • follow us on instagram
  • follow us on linkedin
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).