Exploring the Impacts of Tariffs on Michigan Food Supply Chains
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EmailLindsey Scalera, Director of Policy and Leadership Education and Assistant Director of Policy at CRFS, presented on the impact of tariffs on food systems to the Michigan Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.
On December 10, 2025, Lindsey Scalera, Director of Policy and Leadership Education and Assistant Director of Policy at Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), was invited to testify in front of the Michigan Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee to discuss the impact of tariffs on food costs and supply chains. Accompanied by Dr. M. Jahi Johnson-Chappell, Director of CRFS, her remarks followed Dr. Tim Boring, Director of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and Dr. David Ortega, Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics & Policy at Michigan State University.
“Rising tariffs, as we have heard, kind of cause a cascade effect throughout the food system– we are seeing increases in the cost of ingredients, packaging, equipment and logistics,” Scalera said. “All of those undermine the affordability for families, farmers, food processors, and institutions alike.”
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented by Dr. Boring, Michigan producers are projected to lose $167million in exports in the year ahead. “We’re hearing Michigan companies are having trouble remaining competitive in the global marketplace right now,” Boring said. “To me, that’s the concerning long lasting impact of the current federal approach to trade policy.”
He continued that the United States is being seen as an unreliable trading partner, causing buyers to look for products elsewhere. For producers in Michigan, this has direct implications in commodity crops, such as soybean meal and wheat, as well as cherries and apples.
Due to having a highly diverse agrifood system that is valued for trade, Michigan is vulnerable to tariff shocks, per Dr. Ortega. He explained that tariffs and international trade policy decisions can translate quickly into consequences here in Michigan. The high level of uncertainty affects how farmers plan, invest, and grow crops.
“For Michigan, this could mean delayed upgrades on farms, slower expansion of agrifood production and processing facilities, and potentially weakened export capacity,” Dr. Ortega said. “These are the investments aspects that make a food system more efficient and better able to withstand shocks. When they don’t happen, this is what makes the system more fragile and expensive.”
Though these rising costs place pressure on growers and buyers, Scalera highlighted that there is also an opportunity for institutions and other buyers to seek domestic alternatives.
“There's kind of a puzzle piece effect,” Scalera said. Within Michigan, she recognized the efforts of state agencies working to improve local and regional supply chains, such as programs offered through MDARD, the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Through this ecosystem of partnerships at local and statewide levels, these organizations are offering targeted investments and tailored technical assistance that support more resilient local food systems in the state — ones that can more readily withstand ripple effects outward from changing trade policies. Many of these connections embody the strategies listed in the Michigan Good Food Charter.
Scalera closed out her testimony by adding that “...this farm-to-institution value chain that we've been building over the past more than 10 years opens our doors for growers and communities to provide avenues for healthy eating and really contributes to that local and regional food economy in Michigan.”
Watch the full hearing recording
(11:06 Dr. Boring begins, followed by Dr. Ortega, and followed by Scalera)
About Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems advances regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. We do this by uniting the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more: foodsystems.msu.edu
