Growing up: Demand for local food contributes significantly to the local economy | News, Sports, Jobs

The Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau farmers’ markets have grown in popularity at an astonishing rate in recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID lockdowns and food insecurity that have come with them. Changing consumer demand is having a positive and significant impact on the local economy as growers and sellers have increased the availability of locally grown produce to meet the increasing demands of local consumers. This has led to the organization of the From the Ground Farmers Market Collective in Houghton County.

HOUGHTON COUNTY — Houghton County farmers’ markets have experienced exponential growth by cultivating the local food economy, Leah Polzien, chief executive officer of Main Street Calumet, said in a Friday statement.

“As consumer interest has grown in recent years, farmers and vendors have increased their capacity to meet the overwhelming demand for local produce.” said Polzien. “(The) increased activity by vendors and customers and participation in multiple food access options has resulted in an increased workload for the organizations that manage our regional farmers markets.”

This became evident in October 2020 when the Main Street Calumet Farmers Market extended its business season by relocating to the former Drill Shop of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. The move allowed the market to function until December 19th.

Since then, increased activity between local growers and customers has reached a point where the City of Houghton, the City of Hancock and Main Street Calumet, Inc. have partnered with market vendors to relieve each community of providing professional market management services to farmers individually other public and private sector organizations to address these shared needs, Polzien said in the release. This partnership created a new organization called From the Ground Farmers Market Collective (FTGFMC).

FTGFMC is a grassroots effort by Houghton County Farmers’ Markets to consolidate resources to become a robust and committed leader of the local food system, according to Main Street Calumet’s website.

From the Ground Farmers Market brings farmers and shoppers together for a weekly celebration of local food and community.

Farmers’ markets offer local, sustainable foods and unique crafts in a colourful, vibrant setting. Each week, the market hosts local food, musicians, cooking demonstrations and celebrations of the host districts, according to the website.

From the Ground manages four markets: a Tuesday afternoon (June-October) market in Houghton; a Thursday afternoon (June-September) market in Hancock; and a Saturday morning (June-November) market in Calumet.

From the Ground Farmers Market is a project of the City of Houghton, City of Hancock, Village of Lake Linden, Village of Calumet and Main Street Calumet. It is governed by a voluntary Farmers Market Committee selected from each regional governance and vendor pool.

Jake TenHarmsel, a local farmer and member of the Farmers Market Committee said: “We came together and formed FTGFMC to pool our resources, enable the hiring of a full-time store manager so we could efficiently do back-of-house and front-of-house work and make our stores more customer-friendly and vendor-friendly.”

“FTGFMC is seeking someone to assume the role of Regional Market Manager for the 2022 market season and beyond,” says the MSC website. “Markets in the Houghton County area are an important part of our communities’ weekly routines and have become an inspiring place for our community to meet, eat and enjoy all that our bountiful food system has to offer.”

A professional Farmers Market Manager will have the opportunity to sew next season of Farmers Market success, expand the local food economy and provide food education in our community.

Interested applicants can visit https://www.mainstreetcalumet.com/farmers-market.html to view the job description and learn how to apply. Applications will be accepted by Friday, April 22nd.

From the Ground Farmers Market Collective is a dba of Main Street Calumet, Inc. For more information about the organization or this press release, please contact Rachael Pressley at 906-370-9862 or email [email protected]

Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox