The Northeast Michigan Healthy Food Initiative, along with the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), is proud to announce that Market Managers, Laurie Szczesny (Alcona County), Kira Bixel and Amy Dodge (Alpena County), Diane Burk (Crawford County), Jenn Brown and Sara Mayo (Iosco County), Leah Crossley (Roscommon County) and Gary Shepard (Presque Isle County) recently completed the MIFMA Market Manager Certificate Program on Wednesday, Feb. 12. A total of 39 individuals participated in the program and were certified, making Szczesny, Bixel, Burk, Brown, Mayo, Dodge, and Shepard eight of 454 total individuals who have been certified since the program’s inception in 2011.

The MIFMA Market Manager Certificate Program is the first program of its kind developed in the country that acknowledges that the market manager is a trained professional. The program is voluntary and designed to encourage market managers to pursue leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management.

“We are pleased that these individuals recognized the value of this certificate program that will ultimately improve the overall quality and sustainability of Farmers Markets in Northeast Michigan and positively impact our rural economies,” explained Kristine Ranger, co-lead for the NEMI Healthy Food Initiative. “We are constantly recruiting new individuals who can lead ongoing efforts to develop a regional food system and we congratulate them for their dedication to connecting consumers to local food and farmers in our 11-county region.”

Szczesny, Bixel, Burk, Brown, Mayo, Dodge, Crossley, and Shepard completed 30 hours of virtual and in-person training focused on leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management.

Key learning objectives covered in the program include: Mission-Driven Market Management, Supporting Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Farmers Markets, Governance and Market Policies, Working with Vendors, Michigan Licensing and Regulations for Vendors, Food Safety, Conflict Management and De-escalation, Food Assistance Programs, Working with Volunteers, Earning and Managing Financial Support for Your Market, Building Market Capacity and Data-Informed Decision Making, Managing Risk at the Market, Marketing and Outreach, and Planning for Events and Entertainment.

Each certified market manager had the opportunity to network with other market managers over the course of the program. A final manager-to-manager education and networking opportunity completed the program, focusing on sharing experiences and lessons learned.

Each participant will now return to their home communities to lead the launching of new Farmers Markets, or improving existing Farmers Markets and Pop-Up Fresh Markets, as sponsored by the NEMI Healthy Food Initiative. More information on these markets can be found on the Facebook page at NEMI Healthy Food Initiative.

Questions can be directed to Ranger at 517-974-5697 or kmranger11@gmail.com.

The Northeast Michigan Healthy Food Initiative is working to foster a vibrant and healthy food system in Northeast Michigan, one that is rooted in local and regional food and agriculture, that contributes to the rural economy, and supports the overall health and well-being of all residents.