Farmers Market at the Capitol - 9/22, 9am-2pm

Sponsored by the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), the remaining 2026 Farmers Market at the Capitol event will take place on 9/22. The mission of the event is to provide a thriving marketplace that showcases Michigan food and agricultural products in an effort to educate our state decision-makers on the importance of supporting farmers, ag-based businesses, farmers markets, and community-driven marketplaces. Learn more here.

Good Food Purchasing 101 webinar - 9/23, 10am (NEW)

Join the Good Food for Michigan team for an educational webinar on the basics of Good Food Purchasing, Good Food Values, and how to get started. Register here

Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow on "The Future of Food & Farm Policy" - 9/23, 6pm at MSU (NEW)

The second annual Stuckman Lecture in Food Economics and Policy will feature former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who will reflect on the evolving landscape of American food and agricultural policy and the challenges ahead. Drawing on her public service career and her tenure as Chair of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, she'll discuss how policy, funding, research, and markets can work together to strengthen the nation's food economy and build a more resilient future for producers, consumers, and rural communities. The event will take place at the Kellogg Center Auditorium on the MSU campus. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required: https://events.anr.msu.edu/stuckman26/

Detroit Food Summit - 9/25 in Detroit

This year's Detroit Food Summit theme touches on the powerful concept of reaching back and returning to an identity and culture disrupted by colonization, and carrying that knowledge and wisdom into the future. With DFPC entering an era of regeneration and rebirth, with new leadership and a mostly new Council, these themes profoundly reflect the moment we are in, honoring and drawing from those who laid the groundwork while moving toward the future.The summit will be held at Wayne County Community College. Learn more and register here

Seedfolks play & Farm-to-Table dinner - 9/25 in Allegan

Join Allegan Food Alliance for We’re All Seedfolks: A Farm-to-Table Community Experience. The event will include a live production of Seedfolks and a farm-to-table dinner. Advance registration is required for the farm-to-table dinner because seating is limited to 150 guests. Learn more and register here

Native Food Economies webinar - 9/29, 2pm (NEW)

Native food leaders and interested supporters are invited to join this webinar, where partners will share how they have strengthened their operations and expanded the ways they serve their communities with support from a 3-year USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant. Hosted by the First Nations Development Institute, speakers will share how the LFPP funding has helped them grow new products, establish value-added processing lines, and bring food systems partners together. Learn more and register here

MI Food Hub Network Meeting - 9/30, 10am in Flint (NEW)

Join Michigan Food Hub Network for its in-person network meeting, which will include brief updates from MSU and MDARD on program work, funding, and policy. Participants will join a guided tour of the Flint Fresh Food Hub along with a practical discussion on pricing strategies, exploring how Flint Fresh has evolved over time. Learn more and register here

Northern MI Small Farm Conference - 10/4-6 in Bellaire

Tickets are now available for the 2026 Northern MI Small Farm Conference, hosted by Crosshatch Center for Arts and Ecology. Get your tickets and learn more here.

Meet the Buyers - 10/5, 5:30pm in Bellaire (NEW)

Cultivate Michigan will host a Meet the Buyers event on 10/5 at the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. Buyers and suppliers will have the opportunity to build relationships, discuss selling and purchasing needs, and explore ways to work together during this networking event from 5:30-6:45pm at the Bellaire Village Offices. Buyers, including food hubs, farm stops, and more will have tables set up around the room to interact with farmers. Appetizers and refreshments will be served, thanks to support from the WK Kellogg Foundation. Buyers can register using this link: https://pears.io/events/msuext/9796/. Conference registration is not required for buyers who will only attend these special events. Farmers should register for the full conference here

Report Launch - A Matter of Principles: Leveraging Research for Food Systems Transformation - 10/5, 9am (NEW)

Join this webinar to learn more about the recently released International Development Research Centre (IDRC) report “A Matter of Principles: Leveraging Research for Food Systems Transformation,” highlighting what research funding should be prioritizing to accelerate food systems transformation. Learn more and register here

Finding Your Future in Food Systems - 10/6, 6pm (NEW)

Finding Your Future in Food Systems provides participants with connections and insights to help them identify next steps in their careers. The series, hosted by the North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN), features speakers from job-creating organizations, agencies, and businesses, some working locally, others with national or international scope. Produced by college students for college students and others, sessions are free and open to the public. Sessions take place at 6pm on 10/6, 11/10, and 12/8. Find more information and register here.

The Time is Now! Targeted Local Food Systems Investments & Infrastructure: Producing Measurable Impacts for Farmers & Communities - 10/8, 9am (NEW)

Investments in local food purchasing infrastructure by the federal and state government have generated significant returns, increasing capacity for local food purchasing and stimulating impacts for producers and consumers. MSU Center for Regional Food Systems invites food systems leaders, policy and funding decision makers, and state agency leaders, and partners to attend this 90-minute webinar highlighting the implications of the findings from the National Food Hub Survey, Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (U.S. and Michigan), and 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms. Learn more and register here

Hearth Summit Detroit - 10/8-10

This event is grounded in the city’s creativity, resilience, and collective spirit and is designed to bring together 200 social entrepreneurs, educators, artists, funders, mental health and holistic practitioners, and more working toward a more just and equitable society. The summit aims to deepen reflection across individual, collective, and ecological wellbeing while centering art as a shared language of healing and connection. Registration is not yet open, but you can learn more & express your interest in joining here

2026 MI Apple Crunch - 10/15

The Michigan Apple Crunch is a statewide event that promotes local food and farm to institution programs by encouraging as many people as possible to crunch into a juicy Michigan apple on the same day. Michigan is a top apple producing state and the Crunch is a great way to introduce students, employees, and community members to the benefits of local sourcing and local apples. Register for the crunch here. 

A Story of Food Systems Planning and Action in Hawai'i - 10/29, 3pm

Hosted by the Statewide and Regional Food System Plans National Community of Practice, this presentation traces the evolution of recent food systems planning and collective action in Hawaiʻi, highlighting efforts to move from fragmented initiatives toward more coordinated, statewide approaches to food system transformation. Learn more and register here

Registration is also open for the webinar on 11/19: Co-Creating the Future of Food: How Food Policy Councils Can Drive Inclusive Planning - register here

Great Lakes Fruit, Veg, Farm Market Expo - 12/8-10

The Great Lakes Fruit Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO (GLEXPO) is the premier show to Connect Innovate and Grow. You will connect with over 4,500 fruit, vegetable, farm market and greenhouse individuals and over 400 industry-leading companies. You will learn how to implement the newest innovations on your farm. You will grow your thinking and your business by applying new techniques and knowledge to problems that are limiting your potential. Visit https://glexpo.com/ for more information.

MI Good Food Fund 2026 Seed Awards - Now Open

Michigan Good Food Fund will award grants ranging from $5,000-$20,000 to eligible food and farm businesses. This round of Seed Awards helps businesses across the food and farm sector whose success will grow economic development and healthy food access throughout Michigan. BIPOC and women-owned businesses are highly encouraged to apply. Applications for the next round of funding are now open through September 28 at 5 pm. Learn more here

U of M IFNHP Recipe for Success Grants (NEW)

University of Michigan’s Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health Policy (IFNHP) is committed to advancing rigorous, partnership-driven research that strengthens food and nutrition policy to improve health and well-being. IFNHP is offering 2 “Recipe for Success” grants:

• Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program supports early-stage, policy-relevant research that positions investigators to compete for external funding and ultimately produce actionable evidence for decision makers at the local, state, tribal, or federal levels. Deadline: 12/1/26.
• Monies Invested for Novel Initiatives (MINI) Grant Program provides small, flexible awards supporting activities that advance IFNHP’s mission. Open through 5/1/27 or until all funds have been awarded.

Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Grants

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is encouraging small- and medium-sized dairy farms, manufacturers and processors throughout the state to apply for two upcoming grant opportunities offered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA):

• Dairy Business Builder Grants offer up to $150,000 to help small- and medium-sized dairies;
• Dairy Industry Impact Grants offer up to $100,000 to support projects that positively impact the dairy industry as a whole.

All materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. CT on September 30. Learn more here

Local Food Policy Resource Hub

Local Food Policy Resource Hub, a new online resource from the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law and Graduate School. The Hub is meant to serve a wide-ranging audience, including policymakers, practitioners, government officials and representatives, researchers, educators, and community leaders. It offers a place to explore how states and municipalities across the United States are shaping laws and policies to support locally grown food. You can find it at localfoodpolicy.org.

Michigan Farm to Program Directory

Michigan Farm to Program Directory is a free-to-use, searchable database of both suppliers and buyers of Michigan-grown products. This tool was developed by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and its partners to make it easier for food program operators to buy and serve Michigan fresh produce, and to help Michigan farmers and food suppliers connect with new customers. Need help with your profile, or registering as a buyer or supplier? User guides are available on the Resources page of the 10 Cents a Meal section of MDE's website. Contact MDE-FarmtoProgram@Michigan.gov with questions

Protect MI Care Coalition

Protect MI Care is a statewide coalition of health care providers, patient advocates, and community leaders working to safeguard access to essential health care services for Michigan families. Learn more here.

2030 Food Waste Coalition

Are you working on food waste reduction in Michigan, or looking to start? Join the MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition, a group dedicated to cutting Michigan’s food waste in half by 2030. Learn more here.

Northwest Food Coalition Coordinator (NEW)

The Northwest Food Coalition is hiring for a Coordinator role. This role supports regional food security by coordinating Coalition operations, strengthening member engagement, supporting data and reporting needs, and serving as a liaison between Coalition partners. View the full job post here

Student Internship Opportunity - Marbleseed (NEW)

The Marbleseed communications and development team has multiple areas that might provide interesting and authentic learning for a student intern in the life sciences and environmental studies who have an interest in soil health, climate, water, and more; writing (journalism, communications, English); marketing; library and information science; digital communications; social justice; nonprofit management. Interns will not be paid, but Marbleseed will provide meaningful work and skilled supervision. If you have students who may be interested in this opportunity for the 2026-27 academic year, please contact Jenifer at jennifer.new@marbleseed.org.

Food and Farming Job Search Resources

• Find Sustainable Farm Jobs in Michigan
• MSU Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) offers various resources including a map, a job posting form, a webpage, and a listserv to connect farm employers and farmworkers. Learn more here
• Find Good Food Jobs
• Good Food Jobs is a gastro-job search tool, designed to link people looking for meaningful food work with the businesses that need their energy, enthusiasm, and intellect. They post opportunities with farmers and food artisans, policy makers and purveyors, retailers and restaurateurs, economists, ecologists, and more. Learn more here
• Find Sustainable Food Systems Jobs
• Comfoodjobs is an announcement service for employment, internships, and similar opportunities across the (sustainable) food system spectrum. Learn more here 
• Find Organic Food and Farming Jobs
• Organic Career Network is a national career hub advancing workforce development across the organic food and farming sector. The flagship program is a paid internship program that funds hands-on, mentored experiences for students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals across organic ag, certification, policy, research, communications, advocacy, education, and more. Learn more here
• Find Local/Regional Food Systems Jobs
• North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN) curates a comprehensive, year-round list of job opportunities for community food systems professionals throughout North America. Learn more here