About Us

The Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance (GTFA) started in 2013 to support the area’s food makers and encourage the development of strong local food systems. Foodsheds, like watersheds, focus on place-based connections. In the case of foodsheds, this is specific to where food is produced and eaten. Our goal is to increase access and demand for nourishing local food by supporting entrepreneurs and addressing interwoven social, economic, environmental and health-related challenges in the Grand Traverse food region.

Since its establishment, GTFA has supported and led projects such as the Grand Traverse Food Innovation Hub, the “Think Like a Chef, Cook Like a Dietician, Eat like a Farmer” Culinary Medicine conference, and since 2021, the Hatch @ NoBo Mrkt and BUILD Basics Grand Traverse programs.

GTFA’s current programming is supported by a 2022 Rotary Charities Seed Grant and a 2023 Rotary Charities Assets for Thriving Communities Grant.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance is to strengthen local food markets in the Grand Traverse region with the goal of increasing access to, demand for, and consumption of safe, healthy local food, and improving the viability of small scale farms, for the benefit of consumers, farmers, and the community as a whole.

These goals address the underlying public health, economic, environmental, and social challenges related to:

ONE

The lack of access to healthy food in underserved areas.

TWO

Developing a more resilient small and mid-sized farm economy to promote economic development, particularly in economically challenged rural areas.

To create a good food system, Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance will approach the regional food system components as a system that needs to work together. We will strive to build relationships among farmers, organizations that purchase food, and consumers across the region; provide purposeful educational programming; and convene stakeholders to assist in bringing nourishing food to consumers across the area, especially those most vulnerable to inadequate nutritional diets, and promote job creation and entrepreneurism for the benefit of the entire community.