MarketMaker links producers with agricultural businesses and consumers
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EmailThe Michigan State University Product Center was established to improve economic opportunities in the Michigan agriculture, food and natural resource sectors.
Editor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included.
Anyone in Michigan who grows, sells, processes or eats food now has a new resource to help them. Market Maker© locates producers, businesses and markets of food products, providing an important link between Michigan producers and their buyers including end-consumers. The on-line information is provided on maps so that producers, businesses and markets can be visually located. Producers can use the web site to find processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, restaurants or farmers’ markets who might buy their products. Producers who are registered on the site can be easily found by their potential buyers and end-consumers.
Registration and use of MarketMaker is free. Producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, farmers’ markets and wineries can register by going to the website at http://mimarketmaker.msu.edu/ and clicking on the link, “Register Your Business.” Producers can also download a paper registration form by going to the Michigan State University Product Center web site at www.productcenter.msu.edu. Complete that form and return it per the instructions. Businesses that are already on the web site can establish their own unique user name and password so they can update their information at any time.
“Consumers are increasingly interested in buying food that was produced closer to home. MarketMaker is an important tool to help all parts of the supply chain meet this consumer need,” said Don Koivisto, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Wayne Wood, President of Michigan Farm Bureau, adds, “We support the development of an Internet marketplace for farmers to feature Michigan-based commodities and value-added products. MarketMaker meets that need.”
MarketMaker has been brought to Michigan by the MSU Product Center with funding support from Project GREEEN, the Nowlin Chair for Consumer-Responsive Agriculture, Greenstone Farm Credit Services, the Southeast Michigan Food Systems Economic Partnership, the C.S Mott Chair for Sustainable Food Systems, Michigan Food & Farming Systems, and the Washtenaw County Agricultural Council. “In addition to our financial supporters, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Farm Bureau, and Michigan State University Extension have provided information to help build the database of producers, farmers markets, processors and wineries,” reports Chris Peterson, Director of the MSU Product Center. MarketMaker is active in ten states with two more states plus the District of Columbia scheduled to become active in the near future.
The Michigan State University Product Center was established to improve economic opportunities in the Michigan agriculture, food and natural resource sectors. The Product Center assists the development and commercialization of high value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the agriculture and natural resource sectors.
For more information, contact the MSU Product Center by e-mail at mimarket@msu.edu or call (517) 432-8750.
