Food production has become more industrial and often far removed from where people live. Because of that distance, many people have questions about the quality, flavor, variety, and safety of their food. Many people want food produced without harm to the soil and water. They are demanding locally grown food and pasture-based meat. Food that's produced with as few addititives as possible, on land that is healthy. They are demanding food that will not harm their children.

We can change the way our food is produced by supporting local farmers.

Below is a list of local producers within about 50 miles of Hudson, MI. For a listing of organic food sources, by your ZIP code, check www.eatwellguide.com
Or to find pasture-based meat in Michigan, see this listing: http://www.eatwild.com/products/michigan.html
Email us with other places for nearby homegrown or organic foods: contact-us@nocafos.org

Pasture-based meats can be hard to find, but worth the drive. Here are 2 about 45 min. from Hudson:
C/J Natural Meats, Defiance, OH See their website: http://www.cjgrassfed.com/
all pasture-based meats: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, eggs, raw milk cheese
call for availability
Ralph & Sheila Schlatter
Location: 18637 Road 168
Defiance, OH 43512
Contact: (419) 399-2350
rschlat@bright.net

Old Pine Farm, Manchester, MI Website: http://www.oldpinefarm.biz
pasture-based beef, organic port, free-range chickens
"We are a small farm located in the Chelsea/Manchester area. We produce great tasting, naturally raised, wholesome meats from animals raised on grass, organic feeds, sunshine, and clean water. We offer beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and emu. Our steers are raised on natural hay and grass (no pesticides or fertilizers), our hogs are fed certified organic feed along with our lambs and free-range chickens. We offer quarters and sides as well as a meat CSA/co-op plan.We support the Humane Farming Association and are very compassionate about our animals, and particularly their slaughter."
Old Pine Farm, Kris H
Location: 17121 Grass Lake Road
Manchester MI 48158
E-mail: oldpinefarm123@yahoo.com

For fruits, vegetables, etc., check out some of these local sources:

Adrian Farmers Market Open May to November.
Wednesday 12pm – 6pm
Saturday: 8am - noon
Location: Toledo Street parking lot, Adrian
(Parking lot behind Croswell Opera House, between Broad and Main Streets)
Contact: Bob Slusher/John Kastel, Jr. (517) 264-5039

Ann Arbor Farmers Market Open year round
May 1- December 24 Wednesday and Saturday 7am - 3pm
January 1 - April 30 Saturdays only 8am – 3pm
Location: 315 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor, MI
On line map: http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/framed/parks/farmersmkt.htm
Contact: Louise Mikesell-Wireman, Market Manager

Blissfield Farmers Market Open June to October
Tuesday: 8am – 1pm
Location 325 West Adrian St. Blissfield, MI 49276
(Behind Frosty Boy at the corner of Adrian & Monroe Streets in Blissfield, MI)
http://www.blissfield.net/chamber/blissfield_farmers_market.htm
Contact: Karleen Goetz (517) 423-2278

Skow’s Berry Farm, Adrian Open seasonally
homegrown berries, fruits, vegetables, hand-made soap, garlic, squashes, sweet corn (day we stopped by, sweet corn was "6 min. old!")
10am until dark, closed Sundays.
Location: 2578 Ogden Hwy. Adrian, MI.
Take Beecher east to landfill, turn right on Ogden Hwy.1/2 mile.
Contact (517) 263-5579

Glei’s Inc. Orchards and Greenhouses, Hillsdale Monday through Saturday: 8am – 6pm
Location: 3500 Milnes Rd. Hillsdale
Contact: (517) 437-4495

Flavor Fruit Farms, Cement City Open year round: Summer-Fall hours? Call
Starting Jan. 1 –Saturday only: 9am to 4pm. Bakery and Gift shop.
You can cross country ski in the orchard on Sat. if there is snow.
Location: 11025 S. Jackson Rd. Cement City
Contact: (517)- 688-3455

Jackson-Kuhl’s Bell Tower Market Open May through October
Tuesday: 7am-5pm
Friday: 7am-5pm
Saturday: 7am-5pm
Location: 117 Louis Glick Hwy. Jackson, MI 49201
Contact: Mary Kuhl (517) 782-9011

Kapnick Orchards, Britton Open year-round
Monday – Saturday 7am – 6pm (open a little later in summer).
Sunday 10 am- 5pm
Location: 4245 N. Rogers Hwy, Britton, MI. From M50 less than a mile east of Tecumseh, go 4 miles south on Rogers Hwy.
Contact: (517) 423-7419

Applewood Orchards, Deerfield   Opens Sept
apples
Location: 2998 Rodesiler Hwy, Deerfield, MI
Contact: (517) 447-3002

Brainerd Farms, Onsted Opens mid-August to Nov1
10am to 7 pm daily
apples
Location: 8430 Groger Rd, Onsted (between Springville and Sand Lake off M-50)
Contact: (517) 467-7791

Hideaway Orchard, Adrian Open July-Dec
10am to 5 pm M-Sat
apples
Location: 1360 Shumway Rd, Adrian
Contact: (517) 263-0060

Keeney Orchard, Tipton Open Sept-Oct
9am-7pm daily
apples - oldest orchard in Lenawee Co; U-pick apples, honey, maple syrup
Location: 5300 M-50, Tipton, MI
Contact: (517) 431-2400

Tecumseh Farmers Market Open July to September
Tuesday 12pm – 8pmSaturday: 8am – 12pm
Location: 101 West Chicago Tecumseh, MI 49288
Contact: Rainey Lopez (517) 423-3740

Project Fresh -- What is Project Fresh?
Project Fresh is a collaborative effort with USDA and local farmers’ markets. The program is administered through the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) program of each county in the state of Michigan. Women and children participating in this program can obtain coupons to be used to purchase food at farmers markets. This helps the customer in the WIC program obtain fresh food and it helps the farmer. For more information contact your local county MSU Cooperative Extension Office. In Lenawee it is 517- 264-5313. In Hillsdale, MSU extension is 517-439-9301.

Farmer's Market

A few comments…

Most of the local producers at the farmer's markets and stands are family operations that work long hours producing vegetables, fruit, or plants. They also clean, package, and truck the product directly to you. They are the growers, the packing company, and the retailers. They do it all.

Often people feel that a large chain store has cheaper food. But think about it. First, you cannot compare the quality and freshness of local, seasonal food to the big stores. Second, these stores use almost all agricultural products as “loss leaders” -- discount gotcha's. To get customers to their store, they will sell food and plants below cost. Third, and this may be a surprise, industrial food is rarely cheaper than local, fresh produce at a farmer's market, community garden (CSA), or farm stand.

One of the joys of going to a market or a roadside stand is the ability to talk to the people who grow your food. If you are lucky, it is the beginning of a long relationship. With your purchases you are determining the kind of landscape you want to preserve and the kind of agriculture that you want to support.