PCF and Partners Highlighted in USDA Article on Food Futures Project
Partridge Creek Farm, in collaboration with Michigan State Extension, Chartwells, Northwoods Test Kitchen, and MARESA, continues to make remarkable strides after receiving a $250,000 Innovation Collaborative Award in the summer of 2024. This funding, provided by the Lake Michigan School Food Systems Innovation Hub through the USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, will involve students in choosing their lunch options, promote healthier eating habits, and strengthen local agriculture. Additionally, the initiative will develop templates, training programs, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to help other rural communities adopt similar practices.
In a detailed article written by Emma Beauchamp, Partridge Creek Farm Cooks Up a Recipe for Success with Partners, readers are learn more about the project’s achievements. A recent photo captured by May Tsupros of MSU’s Center For Regional Food Systems highlights a Food Futures partner trip to downstate Michigan, where participants explored innovative practices in sourcing, preparing, and serving fresh, local produce in school cafeterias. The article also shines a spotlight on a significant milestone in the Food Futures project: students harvesting potatoes this fall at the Intergenerational Farm. This initiative exemplifies how partnerships and hands-on learning are shaping healthier and more sustainable school food systems.
Partridge Creek Farm Cooks Up A Recipe For Success With Partners
What This Award and Project Entails
Food Futures Project
Partridge Creek Farm alongside key community partners received this award in 2024 for their Food Futures Project: Connecting Rural Production, Procurement, and Processing in the UP through Education, Collaboration, and Community.
This initiative will enhance access to locally grown produce from Partridge Creek Farm by incorporating it into the cafeterias of Negaunee and Ishpeming school districts. The produce will be processed at Northwoods Test Kitchen and prepared by Chartwells, ensuring that students receive fresh, nutritious meals. The project aims to address the challenges faced by local farmers and highlight the importance of hyperlocal food systems in the U.P. The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Award was made possible through the support of grant partners that include Michigan State University Extension, Marquette-Alger RESA, Northwoods Test Kitchen, and Chartwells, which will propel efforts to revolutionize local food systems in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
