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.

Sign up for Charter communications

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. 

Join the Charter Council

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

Additional resources

Charter Events

  • Jul 16

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – July 2026

    July 16, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

  • Aug 5

    Roots, Flowers, and Fresh Ideas: a Michigan Small Farm Tour Series

    August 5, 2026 – September 10, 2026 Multiple

    Some of the best lessons in agriculture are learned on the farm. This summer, MSU Extension invites you to visit six unique Michigan farms through a series of on-farm learning experiences

  • Aug 5

    Whitney Farmstead Farm Tour

    August 5, 2026 10:00AM – 12:30PM Dexter, MI

    Some of the best lessons in agriculture are learned on the farm. This summer, MSU Extension invites you to visit six unique Michigan farms through a series of on-farm learning experiences, including this tour of Whitney Farmstead in Dexter, MI.

  • Aug 11

    Hazelwood Flower Farm Tour

    August 11, 2026 11:00AM – 1:30PM Oakland Township, MI

    Some of the best lessons in agriculture are learned on the farm. This summer, MSU Extension invites you to visit six unique Michigan farms through a series of on-farm learning experiences, including this tour of Hazelwood Flower Farm in Oakland Township.

  • Aug 18

    Twig End Farm - Tour a flower farm in Flint!

    August 18, 2026 11:00AM – 1:30PM Flint

    Some of the best lessons in agriculture are learned on the farm. This summer, MSU Extension invites you to visit six unique Michigan farms through a series of on-farm learning experiences, including this tour of Twig End Farm in Flint.

  • Aug 20

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – August 2026

    August 20, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

  • Sep 17

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – September 2026

    September 17, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

  • Oct 15

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – October 2026

    October 15, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

  • Nov 19

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – November 2026

    November 19, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

  • Dec 17

    MLFCN Monthly Meeting – December 2026

    December 17, 2026 10:00AM – 11:30AM

    Join the Michigan Local Food Council Network for our monthly phone/video conference.

In the News

Michigan Good Food Charter

Published

Michigan Good Food

Center for Regional Food Systems