The Michigan Good Food Charter is a guide for creating and sustaining good food systems rooted in Michigan communities.

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A Vision for Michigan’s Food Systems

Michigan has a thriving food economy distinguished by equity, health, and sustainability.

To achieve this vision, we need systemic change. Michigan food systems should:

  • ensure food is accessible to everyone,
  • promote healthy communities,
  • use fair and sustainable production methods, and
  • support a diverse and equitable society.

Want to stay informed about the Michigan Good Food Charter? Sign up to receive communications in your inbox.

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It's simple to join the Michigan Good Food Charter Council and sign the resolution of support as an individual or organization. There are three levels of Charter Council membership so everyone can find a level of support that suits their goals and needs. If you support the vision and initiatives of the Charter and would like to stay informed you can join as a Supporter. To implement the charter vision within your community, signing up as a Local Leader may be the right choice. Consider signing up as a Committee Member of one of the three Michigan Good Food Charter Committees If you are looking for ways to get more involved at the statewide level. Charter Committees support the implementation of Charter activities through coalition-building and coordinated policy action efforts. 

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Our Goals

To address the complex challenges of the food system, we have identified six interconnected goals describing the results we want to see in our communities. 

  1. Food Access to Food Sovereignty: Everyone has the resources to access and afford healthy, culturally relevant food where they live, work, learn, and play and the ability to shape the food systems that impact them.
  2. Farm and Food Business Viability: The food system supports a dynamic mix of local, regional, national, and global food sources that offer opportunities for small-scale and marginalized Michigan farm and food businesses to thrive.
  3. Health Equity: The food system supports opportunities for everyone to be as healthy as possible, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
  4. Fair Wages and Economic Opportunity: People who plant, harvest, process, pack, transport, prepare, serve, and sell food have access to living wages, benefits, safe work environments, and pathways for career advancement and leadership.
  5. Sustainable Ecosystems: The food system protects air, water, and soil now and for future generations.
  6. Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience: Communities are resilient in the face of climate change and the food system actively mitigates its impact on the climate.

How can we use the Charter?

The Michigan Good Food Charter is a tool for collaborative communication, advocacy, and evaluation. We can use it to:

  • Explore ideas that advance a good food system in Michigan
  • Identify common ground for collaboration within and across sectors
  • Build action coalitions around food systems policy change
  • Inform policymakers of statewide and local priorities
  • Organize shared measurement for greater impacts

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In the News

  • Learning and acting together for racial equity

    Published on February 10, 2021
    In our first-ever at a glance update, we are sharing highlights of how we and our partners are changing to work more equitably and inclusively.

  • 10 Cents a Meal Grants Awarded to 138 Statewide Applicants

    Published on January 21, 2021
    138 Michigan schools, school districts, and early childhood centers serving over 406,000 children have been awarded grants from the 10 Cents a Meal program to improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children.

  • Reflecting on inspiration from 2020

    Published on December 16, 2020
    To our partners and supporters, thank you for all that you have done this year to advance a good food system in Michigan and nationally.

Michigan Good Food Charter

July 26, 2022

The Michigan Good Food Charter is a vision and a roadmap to advance Michigan’s food and agricultural contributions to the economy, protect our natural resource base, improve our residents’ health, and enable generations of Michigan youth to thrive.

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