“Michigan meals and agriculture companies proceed to achieve success as a result of they’ve embraced creativity, innovation and sustainability,” he stated. McDowell. “Inside meals and agriculture, you possibly can create award-winning muffins or be taught agricultural and meals system abilities to assist get wholesome meals on kitchen tables throughout Michigan. I am proud that our meals and agriculture sector provides so many factors totally different entry factors for Michigan youth. searching for jobs and careers on this thriving trade.”
The Cake Boutique is a global award-winning cake studio in Mattawan. The boutique makes a speciality of high-end limelight celebration muffins, handmade sugar flowers, specialty goodies, and sugar shows. Cake Boutique proprietor Beth Meyer, alongside along with her companion MaryJo Dowling, competed on Meals Community’s The Vacation Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown and took dwelling first place, profitable $10,000.
ValleyHUB is a farm, meals hub, and academic middle based mostly on the Heart for Meals Innovation at Kalamazoo Valley Group School. The City Farm at ValleyHUB showcases a spread of sustainable farming practices. The five-acre web site contains an indoor develop room; a heated greenhouse, outside raised beds; and a passive photo voltaic shelter. The Meals Hub is a licensed meals processing facility outfitted to supply fresh-cut vegetables and fruit at quite a lot of manufacturing scales.
ValleyHUB is targeted on bringing more healthy meals to extra plates in Southwest Michigan via coaching, schooling and help of the recent meals provide chain. They’ve quite a lot of instructional packages, together with working with Michigan State College Extension, Household Farmed, and others to supply skills-focused workshops for farmers and meals processors. They provide enjoyable and sensible courses on sustainability and self-sufficiency open to all.
All through 2022, Director McDowell might be assembly with Michigan’s meals and agriculture companies for discussions targeted on how they will proceed to thrive in Michigan’s new financial system and the way MDARD can greatest help their continued growth.