The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation sits in rural Central Michigan about 90 minutes northwest of Flint. One of the newest business enterprises to open on Reservation is the Native Farmers Market. I was there for the groundbreaking with Tribal Chief Steve Pego, and other tribal members to represent USDA’s investment in this exciting project. USDA Rural Development provided a $200,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to build the farmers market pavilion and supporting parking lot.
As we took shovel to ground, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief Steve Pego recalled how the typical local diet consisted largely of home-grown foods and game from hunting when he was a kid. He lamented how packaged foods and other items have since taken their place. His vision is that the Native Farmers Market will reconnect tribal members with their traditional foods and increase access to healthy food options for the community.
The Market is conveniently located across the street from the Tribal offices in Mt. Pleasant (population 26,000) and close to much of the tribal housing. Tribal Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier describes it as being “at the crossroads of the tribal community.” The market is up and running while construction on the pavilion is still underway.
Secretary Vilsack has identified local and regional food systems as one of the four pillars of rural economic development and recently announced new “Made in Rural America” state by state reports on USDA investments in rural economic development, including local food. Michigan (PDF, 98.4 KB) is among the top 10 states for federal investments in local food, and the Native Farmers Market shows how those investments are having great impact.