A local fellow whom I had always wished to know better passed away last month. Chris Bedford. An amazing guy. He started the Sweetwater organic market in Muskegon, Michigan and found outlets for local, organic farmers and ranchers to sell their food. He chronicled, in a documentary, the class battle over offshore wind power in West Michigan. He founded the Center for Economic Security, focused on transforming West Michigan into a true sustainable economy. And he created over two dozen grassroots advocacy documentaries.
One of his latest shared legacies came to fruition just recently, when Michigan became one of two states (Michigan and Florida) in a Federal pilot program to allow public schools to use Federal funds to purchase locally grown produce for school lunches. Chris Bedford was active in lobbying Senator Stabenow to approve the program, and push for Michigan to be part of the pilot program.
School districts will be able to use the USDA funds they receive to purchase locally grown food.
The effort is expected to increase nutritional value in school lunches, boost the state's agricultural economy and give students the opportunity to see where their food comes from, Merrigan said.
The pilot program has great potential to positively impact Michigan's economy, said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing.
Michigan's manufacturing base is well known. Less well known is its agricultural base, which is the second most agriculturally diverse in America next to California. And much of that diversity is here in West Michigan thanks to the microclimates from being on the leeward side of Lake Michigan. Agriculture is Michigan's second biggest industry.
Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the country. Michigan's unique micro-climates allow farmers to produce over 125 different food and fiber products. Agriculture, the 2nd largest industry contributes $37 billion annually to the states economy.
This type of legislation is exactly the sort of legislation that puts people back to work, keeps money in our agricultural communities, serves healthier foods to our kids, and reduces the carbon footprint of shipping. It's going to be a boon to West Michigan and it's going to improve our quality of life.
Thanks Chris. You've made a huge and positive difference in our world.