The Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council (GGRFSC) is a grassroots organization dedicated to building a just and sustainable food system in west Michigan. The Food Systems Council is an initiative of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, a 35 year old nonprofit environmental education and advocacy organization.

The GGRFSC began in late 2001 and a board of directors was formed in July 2002. It is presently in the latter stages of developing its initial strategic plan.

Over the last two years is has taken steps primarily to study and raise awareness about the state of our present food system and to explore and present alternatives.

2002

The first step was taken in April of 2002 by holding a small gathering of some 35 food security activists, farmers and alternative food system advocates and discussed some of the problems and potential actions. Out of this effort three working groups were created in the areas of education, access and producer marketing. This effort was supported by funding from the Michigan Land Trustees, Inc.

The education working group commenced developing a 5 part educational series ÒFood for ThoughtÓ that covered a diversity of topics from gleaning and community gardening to cuban agriculture & food practices and has continued to explore steps around public and academic education about sustainable food systems.

The access working group took on the project of working with a low income neighborhood to secure funding and for and help develolp a neighborhood farmersÕ market, starting in mid 2002. The fledgling SouthEast Community Farmers' Market from May through October 2003, served 2000 customers and put $8000 into the hands of local farmers.

The producer marketing working group has taken a number of steps including: developing and sending out a survey to 280 vegetable growers in the west Michigan area to learn about their needs with regards to connecting with local market opportunities; organized with local extension a value added and alternative dairy strategies meeting; developed and submitted an unfunded proposal to link area producers to local restaurants as the ÒRidge Culinary BountyÓ project, based on the highly productive Fruit Ridge area NW of Grand Rapids.

In June of 2002 support was generously provided by the local Dyer-Ives Foundation to help develop a baseline assessment of the west Michigan food system and draft a white paper on the benefits of a local food system. The white paper and a partial baseline analysis was completed in May of 2003. The baseline assessment includes economic, consumption, and production data.

In July of 2002 the board of the GGRFSC was established and includes representatives from religious, arts, farming, environment, media, planning, homeless, nutrition, sociology, and culinary expertise.

2003

In February of 2003 the GGRFSC held its first conference ÒRooted in CommunityÓ and brought Mark Winne of the Hartford (CT) Food System and Michael Hamm, MSUÕs Chair of Sustainable Agriculture to present to some 100 people in the region on the ideas and the opportunities for a local food system. The day included a fabulous lunch of all local food prepared by local chefs and a brainstorming session to gather peopleÕs vision of an Òideal food system for West MichiganÓ.

Out of the February conference and with the help of Michael Hamm, the board of GGRFSC and other volunteers began the strategic planning process based on the information gathered at the conference.

Out of these sessions have emerged the development of the CouncilÕs organizational structure and a commitment to the following standing committees: public relations, education, food security/access, community gardens, public policy, producer marketing and an ad hoc programs committee. In July an internal strategic plan was been adopted. The programatic or external strategic plan will be in draft form in August.

In July we commenced publishing the first issue of a quarterly newsletter titled "Rooted in Community" (notice a theme here?).

In September the Public Policy and the Community Garden committees met for the first time and began to wrestle with goals and bojectives for the upcoming year. The Public Relations Committee has worked on developing press releases, the development of publicity materials, two quarterly newsletters and a display. The Education Committee is developing its programs for the upcoming year. And rather than repeat what is being done, we have chosen to have a representative on the Food Subcommittee of the Kent County Emergency Needs Task Force for the present time rather than form an independent Food Security/Access Committee.

Some of the other projects the GGRFSC has recently been involved in include:

• Working with Calvin CollegeÕs Urban Sociology class to study a farm-to-school program at the college.
• Organizing a ChefÕs Collaborative and Slow Food chapter in West Michigan.
• Working with local economic development representatives in Grand Rapids and expert consultants to explore the development of new and existing farmersÕ markets.
• Building a community garden in the Eastown Neighborhood.
• Organizing three live call-in shows on local public access addressing justice issues around food and agriculture.
• Presenting at the local Growing Communities Conference (2003) on the topic ÒConnections with Food: Recovering from a Diet of NowhereÓ.
• Working with the MDA and MIFFS on the Select a Taste of Michigan campaign in west Michigan.
• Partner of the Food Secure Futures project working to address food security and local food systems issues in west Michigan (directed by MIFFS).
• Partner with Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) of West Michigan to help develop support for local, sustainable businesses.
• Working with the Eastown Community Association (a Grand Rapids neighborhood association) to explore the idea of a community food store that would retail local food farmers.

Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council
c/o West Michigan Environmental Action Council
1514 Wealthy Street SE - Suite 280
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 451-3051 -3054 (fax) or info@foodshed.net