In a letter, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked for help from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in dealing with disruptions to the food supply chain.
Whitmer said, “As we combat COVID-19 and continue to jumpstart our economy, it is important that we examine and eliminate vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic up and down the food supply chain.”
Whitmer wants Michigan’s struggling dairy farmers to get paid faster in the wake of serious supply chain disruptions and volatile milk prices.
Whitmer also asked for investment in vertical farming from the $4 billion in the American Rescue plan allocated for food supply chain initiatives. She promoted the advantages of vertical farming, including higher productivity, shorter growing time, less water use, and better control over foodborne illness. Whitmer also highlighted the benefit of having food grown closer to where it is eaten.
Whitmer is requesting an update to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines the cost of a standard healthy diet. Nearly 1.3 million Michigan residents receive federally directed food benefits, which Whitmer considers insufficient to maintain a healthy diet.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
