Michigan to expand fruit & veg options in schools
The specialty crop sector produces large amounts of processed and fresh fruits as well as vegetables and the projects have the capability of giving a major boost to the economy.
“These changes give Michigan producers a greater opportunity to sell more produce through different marketing channels,” Ben LaCross, a Leelanau County cherry producer who represents District 9 on the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Board of Directors, said.
Yet while it was a victory for the specialty crops sector, theirs was not the only Michigan-stressed issue on the agenda at the Phoenix conference. The next national-level farm bill involving the widening gaps between increasingly technical equipment and the people operating it was a huge source of consideration, but also of concern to Michigan farmers.
“Codifying these concerns in policy was a first step—our members are expressing their concern about how evolving technology could impact their day-to-day operations on the farm,” John Kran, MFB’s national legislative counsel, said. “Overall we’re excited about technology, but we’re starting to see some unanticipated side effects—some growing pains—related to that technology with respect to data access and ownership.”
source: michiganpeninsulanews.com
