West Michigan is renowned for its vibrant local business scene and commitment to delivering exceptional products and services. From bustling cities like Grand Rapids to charming lakeside towns, the West thrives on supporting local companies that embody the values of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Part of what contributes to the vibrancy of the local food scene in West Michigan is the presence of companies that actively support smaller ventures through their distribution and delivery services. They play a crucial role in connecting local producers with consumers, ensuring that the region’s culinary offerings thrive. By facilitating the transportation and accessibility of locally sourced products, these businesses strengthen the connection between farmers, food artisans, and the community. Their commitment to supporting smaller ventures helps foster a sustainable and diverse food ecosystem, where local businesses can flourish. Through their dedication, these companies contribute to the overall vitality of the West Michigan food scene.
Wormies Vermicompost
Wormies is a worm farm, composting facility, craft soil mix manufacturer, and educational outreach and consulting business in Kent County. Wormies’ primary focus is diverting food waste from landfills and turning it into premium worm manure by collecting food scraps from residential and commercial customers in the greater Grand Rapids area. This food waste is composted at Wormies’ site, partner farms, and community gardens throughout the city. Residents or businesses within the greater Grand Rapids area can sign up for Wormies pickup service of food scraps and help feed local soil and not landfills.
Wormies produces a bio-available compost, which hashigher percentages of worm manure, and is proven to contain protective enzymes, hormones for plant growth, beneficial microorganisms, and nutrients. Use Wormies Vermicompost as an all natural inoculant for garden soil, lawns, seeding, seedlings, and established plants. Wormies also offers a compost tea spraying service. Quickly deliver the benefits of Wormies Vermicompost in a liquid form, which inoculates your garden, lawn or farm.
Find Wormies Vermicompost and soil health products at the Fulton Street Farmers Market on Saturdays, South East Market and at the Wormies farm by appointment.
Anjoy
Anjoy offers subscriptions to high-quality, humanely-raised, and sustainably-grown products from local farms and producers to serve customers as well as restaurants and retail locations. Their offerings include organic produce, salad greens, pasture-raised meats and eggs, locally baked bread and other goods, mushrooms, and coffee from local roasters.
Currently serving the greater Grand Rapids area, Anjoy is also expanding its delivery services to northern Michigan and metro Detroit in the coming weeks. Their mission is to cultivate a more equitable, sustainable, and delicious food system through partnerships with local organic farms and food producers that prioritize using the best local ingredients.
Customers can learn more and place orders at anjoy.co
The Patch
The Patch, a distributor based in West Michigan, is forging partnerships with entrepreneurs to provide a diverse range of unique, colorful, and tasteful eco-friendly products suitable for home use, food trucks, restaurants, and bakeries. Their current food menu showcases an array of Michigan-grown flour, meals, grits, mushrooms, salts, and candles. With a commitment to expanding their offerings, customers can anticipate the introduction of additional products in the future. To learn more about The Patch and their offerings, visit www.themindfulpatch.com. Take advantage of their glossary page to familiarize yourself with the health benefits associated with shopping from their collection. For convenient access, they offer shipping as well as delivery services for large orders. To place an order, contact 616-820-4339.
Neil Davey is a resident of Marshall, MI and is the Southwest Michigan Local Food Coordinator for Taste the Local Difference. This Hoosier turned Michigander can often be found writing his next book, fooling around in the garden, experimenting with his weekly CSA produce, or planning his next hiking trip somewhere in the pleasant peninsula.