Farm to Fork 2025

Threads to Follow

When expanding your relationship to food, it helps to explore other topics related to food, other than nutrition and health. There are many chefs, farmers, activists, writers, artists, and so on, who use food as a tool to express themselves, or as a lens to view and discuss the world. If you're looking to lean into your sense of curiosity, or are looking for inspiration, encouragement, or models of folks driving change in their communities, check out some of the Michigan-based individuals, businesses, and programs listed here.

It's impossible to include all people who are doing meaningful work but I tried to consolidate lists of folks who I have learned from and admire. Think of these as threads to follow. This is just the beginning of your exploration!

-in the Kitchen-

  • Kiki Louya of Detroit Food Academy: https://www.kikilouya.com

  • Amanda Saab: https://amandasplate.com

  • Abra Berens of Granor Farm: https://www.abraberens.com

  • Ji Hye Kim of Miss Kim: https://misskimannarbor.com

  • Ederique Goudia at Eastern Market

    • In the Business of Food: https://www.ibfdetroit.com

  • Warda Bouguettaya of Warda Pâtisserie: https://warda-patisserie-midtown.square.site/home

  • Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba of Baobab Fare: https://www.baobabfare.com

  • Schoolcraft Community Education: https://www.schoolcraft.edu/ppl/classes-schedules/

  • Detroit Food Academy: https://www.detroitfoodacademy.org

  • Sprouting Chefs, LLC in Ann Arbor: https://www.sproutingchefs.org

  • James Beard, Great Lakes Region, Restaurant and Chef Award Semi-finalists, 2025: https://www.jamesbeard.org/stories/the-2025-james-beard-award-semifinalists

-in the Community-

  • Farm Stops and Community Markets:

  • Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor: https://www.argusfarmstop.com

  • Agricole Farm Stop in Chelsea: https://www.agricolefarmstop.com

  • Allen Neighborhood Center in Lansing: https://www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org

  • Lively Neighborhood Market in Empire: https://livelyneighborfood.com

  • Neighborhood Grocery in Detroit: https://www.neighborhood-grocery.com

  • Detroit People's Food Co-op: https://detroitpeoplesfoodcoop.com

  • Acorn Farmer's Market in Manchester: https://www.acornfarmersmarketcafe.org

  • Eastern Market in Detroit: https://easternmarket.org

  • Lakeshore Depot in Marquette: https://lakeshoredepot.square.site

  • Growing Hope in Ypsilanti: https://growinghope.net

  • Detroit Community Fridges: https://detfridge.com

  • Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network: https://www.dbcfsn.org

  • Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti: https://ypsimutualaid.org

  • Michigan Food Hub Network: https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigan-food-hub-network/

    • Valley Hub in Kalamazoo: https://valleyhub.kvcc.edu

    • Flint Fresh Food Hub in Flint: https://www.flintfresh.com

  • The Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative: https://www.wupfoodsystems.com

  • Keweenaw Bay Indian Community: https://www.kbic-nsn.gov

  • MSU Center for Regional Food Systems: https://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/

  • Umich Food Literacy for All class: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/sustainablefoodsystems/foodliteracyforall/

  • MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/

  • Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS): https://miffs.org

  • Fair Food Network: https://fairfoodnetwork.org/who-we-are/

    • Double Up Food Bucks: https://doubleupfoodbucks.org

  • 10 Cents a Meal: https://www.tencentsmichigan.org

-on the Farm-

  • T.C. Collins at Willow Run Acres: https://willowrunacres.com

  • Shara Trierweiler at Agape Organic Farms: https://agapeorganicfarms.com

  • Kirsten Kirby-Shoote at Leilú Gardens: https://www.icollectiveinc.org/memberprojects/leilugardens

  • Bowers School Farm: https://www.schoolfarm.org

  • John Cox at Baseline Farm: https://www.baselinefarm.com

  • Slow Farm: https://slowfarmandfriends.com

  • Keep Growing Detroit: https://www.detroitagriculture.net

  • Xiong's Fresh Produce: https://www.localdifference.org/partner/xiongs-fresh-asian-vegetables/

  • Alex Ball at Old City Acres: http://www.oldcityacres.com

  • New City Neighbors: https://newcityneighbors.org

  • Green Things Farm Collective in Ann Arbor: https://www.greenthingsfarm.com

  • New City Farm: https://newcityneighbors.org/farm/

  • Devin Wilson at Sunlight Gardens in Battle Creek: https://www.sunlightgardens.org

  • Melvin Parson at We the People Opportunity Farm: https://www.wtpof.org

  • Nature and Nurture Seed Company: https://natureandnurtureseeds.com

  • Michigan Seed Library Network: https://miseedlibrary.org

  • I-Collective: https://www.icollectiveinc.org

  • Livonia Public Library Seed Library: https://livonialibrary.info/seedlibrary/

  • Livonia Community Gardens: https://livonia.gov/1779/Gardens

  • Seed Savers Exchange: https://www.seedsavers.org

  • Slow Food USA: https://www.slowfood.com

  • Ark of Taste Catalogue: https://slowfoodusa.org/ark-of-taste/

  • Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund: http://www.detroitblackfarmer.com

  • Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund: https://www.wcblackfarmers.fund

  • Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund: https://www.detroitblackfarmer.com

  • West MI Young Farmers Chapter: https://michiganyoungfarmers.org

  • Project Grow Community Gardens: https://projectgrowgardens.org

  • Michigan Wild Rice Initiative: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2023/11/20/michigan-wild-rice-initiative-works-toward-statewide-tribal-state-manoomin-stewardship-plan

  • Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA): https://mifma.org

  • MI Farm Link: https://mifarmlink.org

  • Taste the Local Difference:

    • Local Food & Farm Directory: https://www.localdifference.org/find-food-farms/

  • USDA Farm Directory:

    • https://www.usdalocalfoodportal.com

-Advocacy-

Calls to Action:

  • Action for 10 Cents a Meal

    • Click the link below for a letter writing and call making campaign. Advocates are asking that folks send a letter (2 clicks), and make calls to legislators requesting that 10 Cents a Meal be included in this year's budget.

      • https://groundworkcenter.org/10-cents-a-meal-action-alert-2025/

    • 10 Cents a meal website: https://www.tencentsmichigan.org

  • The Farmer Narratives Project

    • Advocates are collecting stories from farmers, ranchers, and growers who are impacted by the farm bill. Accepted stories will receive a $50 gift card.

    • Link to interest form: https://tinyurl.com/4puwpu3a

    • Farm bill updates: https://sustainableagriculture.net/category/farm-bill/

  • Michigan School Meals

    • There’s still a lot up in the air with the state budget, but we know things could shift quickly. With school meals left out of the House budget and talk of a potential government shutdown, it’s more important than ever to keep the pressure on—especially with House leadership.

    • Call to action to keep meals on the table for all kids: https://MidwestRegionCampaigns.heartpowered.org/campaign/138964/

Know Your Reps:

  • Contact Governor Whitmer:

    • https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ContactGovernor.aspx

  • Find Your Members of U.S. Congress:

    • https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

  • Find your Michigan State Senator:

    • https://www.senate.michigan.gov

  • Find your Michigan State Representative:

    • https://house.mi.gov

  • Join a Local Food Policy Council near you (or start one!):

    • Michigan Local Food Policy Council Network: https://www.canr.msu.edu/local_food_council_network/about

  • Sign up for Civil Eats 4-week Crash Course on Civics and the Food System

    • https://civileats.com/2025/09/15/civil-eats-launches-a-new-crash-course-on-civics-and-the-food-system/

  • Stay up to date on policy issues:

    • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: https://sustainableagriculture.net

    • HEAL Food Alliance: https://healfoodalliance.org

    • Food Research and Action Center: https://frac.org

    • Food Gatherers Advocacy Updates: https://www.foodgatherers.org/get-involved/advocate/

-tools & resources-