IMPaCT PaRTNERSHIPS

Our Impact Partnerships set Taste the Local Difference apart when it comes to local food marketing and food-systems support.

That’s because we partner with economic development agencies, nonprofits, schools, health departments, farmers markets, food-system support organizations, state agencies, federal programs, and more across the U.S. to expand the impact local food can have both for producers and consumers. 

We do this by cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships tailored to the needs and goals of each organization. Whether you want support with a single project or to pilot an entire program with us…we’d love to help!

Many of our partners make these partnerships possible through existing funding for social impact projects or by writing us into grant proposals.

Let's Collaborate

$734,007

in marketing services provided at no cost to 285 farms & food businesses since 2021 with funding from our Impact Partners.

100%

of farms & food businesses supported say they’d recommend TLD services to another local food business.

200%

74% of our clients report an average of 200% ROI in their first year after TLD marketing services.

Need financial support to fund marketing efforts for your food or farm business?

Check out our guide to finding funding sources and writing a proposal that funders will be eager to support!

IMPaCT PaRTNERSHIP EXaMPLES:

  • Working with a food entrepreneur incubator program to deliver marketing technical assistance services to their participants
  • Creating educational content and training videos focused on food systems marketing and business development for a university extension program
  • Developing marketing materials and resources for multiple producer associations and organizations; including MIFMA, MIFFS, MI CSA Network & CSA Innovation Network
  • Assisting in facilitating farm-to-school programming and procurement
  • Piloting an innovative program to provide small farmers with funding and marketing services, in addition to an additional revenue stream, by connecting them with SNAP recipients in their area; also increasing access to fresh, local food 
  • Partnering as a local food marketing expert with national networks such as CSA Innovation Network, Midwest Vegetable Growers Network, & Nutrition Incentive Hub (NIH) Local Sourcing Cohort
  •  Streamlining local food data collection into one place, finding gaps in previously collected data, and sharing as iFrames and anonymous exports for public consumption to enhance research, advocacy, and economic development
  • In addition to those listed above, we support organizations with several other services: targeted outreach, webinars, curriculum development, consulting

FoodSPICE

We partnered with MSU’s Center for Regional Food Systems to provide subsidized marketing technical assistance as part of their Food SPICE program.

Food SPICE (Food Systems Partners Investing in Communities and Entrepreneurs) is a group of food systems stakeholders working together to strengthen the viability, resilience, and equity of Michigan regional food economies.

$47,500

in TLD marketing services were provided

NINETEEN

businesses were supported with marketing technical assistance.

100%

All businesses were BIPOC-owned, Women-owned, and/or Veteran-Owned

Michigan
Farmers Market Association

MIFMA was established in 2006 as a statewide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers markets. The number of farmers markets in Michigan has grown from around 90 in 2001 to nearly 300 in 2023.

Over the years we’ve partnered with MIFMA in a variety of ways:

  • Writing and producing videos for them
  • Assisting with data collection around farmers market manager compensation and tenure
  • Creating a guide for their market vendors of the various eCommerce and payment platforms available and an overview of their costs and features

Fresh Food Connections

Fresh Food Connections, a partnership between Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Taste the Local Difference (TLD), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, seeks to increase fresh produce consumption by connecting SNAP-eligible communities via eCommerce to farmers committed to food access.

Individuals and families interested in fresh food select a local farmer that meets their needs and register to pay using SNAP/EBT or their preferred payment method. 

Fresh Food Connections works with farmers from a variety of diverse backgrounds, currently serving Houghton, Luce, Ingham, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

23 FaRMS

736 HOURS

of Marketing Technical Assistance provide by Taste the Local Difference

$130,000 sTIpENds

has been given in cash stipends directly to small farms to increase production.

OUR IMPaCT PaRTNERs INclUde: