Four years ago, professors and alumni of the Northern Michigan University Hospitality Management program decided that they needed to use their expertise and knowledge to create a celebration for the industry. Since then, the MQT Local Food Fest has grown to become a farm-to-table celebration, honoring and connecting all links of the Upper Peninsula’s local food system, from farmers to eaters and everyone in-between.
Each year, the event usually features a locally-focused cooking competition, the NMU Alumni Culinary Competition, educational booths and a large silent auction. Due to the
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Four years ago, professors and alumni of the Northern Michigan University Hospitality Management program decided that they needed to use their expertise and knowledge to create a celebration for the industry. Since then, the MQT Local Food Fest has grown to become a farm-to-table celebration, honoring and connecting all links of the Upper Peninsula’s local food system, from farmers to eaters and everyone in-between.
Each year, the event usually features a locally-focused cooking competition, the NMU Alumni Culinary Competition, educational booths and a large silent auction. Due to the pandemic, the planning team has decided to refrain from holding an in-person event.
The team still moves to accomplish their goals, which includes aggregating sales to local food producers, educating consumers about food and agricultural issues that face the region and inspiring others to pursue careers in food and ag businesses. They hope to accomplish this by launching a social media local food celebration, “Falling for Food, Virtually.” This campaign will begin October 21, kicking off with locally focused Fresh Deals sales flyer from the Marquette Food Co-op. It will conclude with a Local Fall Harvest Restaurant week in Downtown Marquette beginning the week of November 9.
This year’s event will focus on celebrating the partners who have helped the MQT Local Food Fest become what it represents today. The public is invited to follow along with the MQT Local Food Fest Facebook and Instagram pages for relevant content, including giveaways, live and pre-recorded videos, information about local sales, restaurant specials and fun approachable ways for consumers to become more familiar with the folks behind their food. There will also be opportunities to give back and support educational efforts around food and ag.
The MQT Local Food Fest is put on by Taste the Local Difference, Michigan’s Local Food Marketing Agency, in collaboration with numerous area food and agriculture businesses and organizations.
If you have questions or want to get involved please email Alex: alex@localdifference.org
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