Whether you managed your market for the very first time or celebrated a milestone market anniversary with your community, your efforts as a local food champion have helped to create spaces for fresh food, community connection, and promote food access.
But we know the work doesn’t stop here- 2026 is just around the corner, and it’s time to gear up for a new year of growth and opportunity!
MIFMA is restructuring some of our educational programming to meet the needs of our community-driven marketplaces. Starting this year, the Michigan Farmers Market Conference will be moving to a biennial format. That means the next Michigan Farmers Market Conference will be held in 2027.
We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events to ring in the new year:
Market Manager Certificate Program: January 16 – February 16, 2026 (Kick Off in Grand Rapids January 16-17, Virtual webinars Mondays and Wednesdays following)
- The Market Manager Certificate Program is a voluntary program designed to encourage farmers market managers to pursue leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management.
- Not interested in or able to attend the full program, but still want to participate? Individual webinars are open for registration. Learn more about what’s available here.
Annual Meeting: March 9, 10 AM – 12 PM (Virtual)
- The MIFMA annual meeting will showcase MIFMA’s work over the past year and provide a context for understanding the farmers market community in Michigan. During the meeting, members will elect new members to the MIFMA Board of Directors and vote to determine our 2026 state and national advocacy priorities and potential bylaw changes. The board is instrumental in providing leadership and direction for the association, and our advocacy efforts are driven by this priority-setting process.
Spring Food Access Kick-Off Meeting: March 25, 2026 (Virtual)
- Join us for the 2026 Season Kick Off to learn everything you need to know about SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC Produce Connection, and Senior Project Fresh in the season to come. More information and registration coming soon!
MDARD Regional Town Hall Meetings: April 20 – May 4, 2025* (Virtual)
- Review food safety trends from the 2025 season, learn more about what to expect in the year ahead, and network with other market managers in your area. We’ll also have MDARD inspectors and food safety professionals on the call to answer questions and discuss what to expect from inspectors in 2026.
- *Tentative
Monthly Market Manager Meet Ups
- Monthly Market Manager Meet Ups are informal, coffee hour-style gatherings for market managers to network, learn, and grow with one another. While MIFMA staff will be present on the call and will offer suggested discussion questions each month, this time is all about you, the market manager! Grab a cup of Michigan farmers market fresh coffee, turn your camera and microphone on, and socialize with your peers from all over the state. Stay tuned for the 2026 schedule and registration information coming soon!
Hungry for more? Check out these additional opportunities!
- Food Safety at the Farmers Market Project Applications: Apply for funding to support a food safety-themed program of their choice for the 2026 market season. These projects can range from an in-person cooking demonstration, food safety kitchen tool distribution event, educational videos to share online, and other consumer education-focused projects. Learn more and apply in English and Spanish.