Local Food Choices
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 additives 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, see EatWellGuide.
Locate pasture-based meat in Michigan, EatWild
Email ECCSCM to post other locations for nearby homegrown or organic foods:
Pasture-based meats and cheese
Argus Farm Stop Ann Arbor, MI
325 W Liberty St
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 213-2200
Hours: Weekdays 7-7; Weekends 8-6
“By shopping at Argus, you are buying DIRECTLY from the farms and producers. Our objective is to provide the farms a profit to help them GROW – so they price their goods and they receive 80% of that selling price.”
Old Pine Farm, Manchester, MI
Old Pine Farm, Kris H
17121 Grass Lake Road
Manchester MI 48158
Pasture-based beef, organic pork, 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, chicken, and lamb. 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.” Contact
Sparrow Meats & Produce Ann Arbor, MI
407 N. 5th Ave (Kerrytown)
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 761-8175
Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 7-6; Sun 9-6
Open 7 days a week – great bacon, sausage, beef tenderloin, pork roasts…
” Sparrow offers free-range air-chilled poultry, duck breast, whole duck, certified organic lamb, free range pork, prime veal, veal shanks, aged prime beef, homemade free-range pork & chicken sausages, Cajun sausages, crawfish etoufee, crawfish pies.”
Sow Fresh Market Adrian, MI
4497 N. Adrian Hwy
Adrian, MI
(517) 438-8997
“Sow Fresh Farm Market was established with the goal of offering Adrian and the surrounding communities with the absolute freshest selection of homegrown fruits and vegetables from our family farm, as well as high quality natural and organic food options from other local, regional and national growers.”
Pasture-raised turkey and meats, homemade breads, local Calder Dairy milk in glass bottles, honey… many products sourced locally in SE Michigan.
Canal Junction Natural Meats, Defiance, OH
All pasture-based meats: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, eggs, raw cheeses
call for availability
Ralph & Sheila Schlatter
18637 Road 168
Defiance, OH 43512
Contact: (419) 399-2350
And at same location:
Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese, Defiance, OH
Cheese crafted on the farm where milk is produced from pasture-raised cows
Available at Defiance & Toledo Farmer’s Market, Ohio foods stores & co-ops
Ralph Schlatter, cheesemaker
Contact: (419) 399-2350
For Fruits, Vegetables check out these local sources:
Adrian Farmers Market Open May to October
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm
Location: Toledo Street parking lot, Adrian
(Parking lot behind Croswell Opera House, between Broad and Main Streets)
Contact: Edward Monday (517) 265-6348
Ann Arbor Farmers Market Open year round
Location: 315 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor, MI
Directions
Contact: Sarah DeWitt, Market Manager,sdewitt@a2gov.org
Blissfield Farmers Market Open July to October
Mondays, 4 – 8 pm
Location 325 West Adrian St. Blissfield, MI 49276
First United Methodist Church’s parking lot right at the corner of Pearl and Adrian Streets
Glei’s Inc. Orchards and Greenhouses, Hillsdale Hours vary by season
Location: 3500 Milnes Rd. Hillsdale
Contact: (517) 437-4495
Flavor Fruit Farms, Cement City
Location: 11025 S. Jackson Rd. Cement City
Contact: (517) 688-3455
Kapnick Orchards, Britton Open year-round
Hours vary by season
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
Tecumseh Farmers Market Open May to October
Tuesday 12pm – 8pmSaturday: 8am – 12pm
Location: 101 West Chicago Tecumseh, MI 49288
Contact: (517) 424-6003
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
Applewood Orchards, Deerfield Apple harvest begins in August
Location: 2998 Rodesiler Hwy, Deerfield, MI
Contact: (517) 447-3002
Brainerd Farms, Onsted Peaches & Apples
Location: 8430 Groger Rd, Onsted (between Springville and Sand Lake off M-50)
Contact: (517) 467-7793
Hideaway Orchard, Adrian Apples Open July-Dec, hours vary by season
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 Monroe Road, (M-50), Tipton, MI
Contact: (517) 431-2400
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.Each client receives a $30 booklet of fifteen $2 coupons to be used June 1st through October 31st. Coupons can only be used to buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at authorized farmers’ markets and roadside stands. This helps the customer in the WIC program obtain fresh food and it helps the participating farmer.
For more information contact your local county MSU Cooperative Extension Office. MSU Cooperative Extension Office Lenawee County 517- 264-5313
MSU Cooperative Extension Office Hillsdale County 517-439-9301
Farmer’s Market
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Farm of Ann Arbor
Community Farm of Ann Arbor grows produce for 180 member families. Each week crops are harvested and brought to the barn for distribution. Members are responsible for picking up their individual shares on one of the two distribution days. From June through October, members may pick up on Wednesdays 12 – 7 p.m., or on Saturdays 12 – 4 p.m. Descriptions of shares, and in-town pickup available.
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 supported Agricultural (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.