Corp! 2014 Michigan Food and Agriculture Awards honor Michigan growers and food businesses
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EmailTo recognize the diversity, size and success of Michigan food and agriculture businesses and organizations in the state, Corp! Magazine awarded their 2014 Michigan Food and Agriculture awards to a number of contributing businesses from across the state.
To recognize the diversity, size and success of Michigan food and agriculture businesses and organizations in the state, Corp! Magazine awarded their 2014 Michigan Food and Agriculture awards to a number of contributing businesses from across the state. The award ceremony was held on Nov 5th, 2014 on the campus of Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan.
A number of Good Food Charter supporters were recognized for their contribution to the food and agriculture industry. A list of award winners can be found at the Corp! Magazine website.
Award recipients included Harvest Michigan, a business that started in 2008 as Oakland County's first developing "regional food hub". A food hub is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products." Harvest Michigan's vision is to build a diversified culture of food producers and to bring more local, farm-fresh products to consumers.
"We envision our regional food chain building capacity to create a sustainable and equitable food system for our region," said co-founder and CEO Yvette Berman.. The past year has brought growth for Harvest Michigan with a 33% growth in its Community Supported Agriculture Produce program's sales. “An improving economy is allowing more consumers to ‘buy local’” Berman said.
Tirrell Farmstead Specialties is a sheep dairy farm in Mid-Michigan. Ben and Jessie Tirrell make their own cheeses that they sell in retails stores. They also have their own store, located at their farm in Charlotte, Michigan where they sell their family’s meat products, their cheeses, prepared food and many other locally produced food products.
Ben Tirrell said of their award “We were honored to be recognized by the broader business committee with this award. I think it demonstrates the growth in local food and value added agriculture. The profitability and viability that is starting to become evident is making business leaders start to take notice. “
Other award recipients included Fair Food Matters, Food Lab Detroit, Keep Growing Detroit, Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Waterford School District.
