Nearly $300,000 in Seed Awards Boosts 18 Michigan Food Businesses, Advancing Statewide Food Access and Entrepreneurial Growth

DETROIT, MI (November 17, 2025) — Michigan Good Food Fund announced today its latest round of Seed Award recipients, recognizing 18 food and farm businesses across Michigan’s retail grocery stores, markets, incubator kitchens, food co-manufacturers, and food hubs. This is the second round of the awards this year. The program exceeded its planned investment limit to uplift even more entrepreneurs this year, deploying nearly $300,000 in Seed Awards—with a deliberate effort to expand investment in Metro Detroit, where almost half of the funding was awarded. These awardees are strengthening local food access, expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, and driving economic mobility across Detroit and the rest of the state.

Michigan Good Food Fund Seed Awards provide funding to help food businesses grow their operations, purchase essential equipment, expand distribution, upgrade facilities, and build long-term sustainability. These investments reinforce the collective’s commitment to supporting community-rooted food businesses—especially those serving underserved areas, rural communities, and regions with limited food access and resources. Launched in 2023, Michigan Good Food Fund has administered four rounds of Seed Awards to date.

New 2025 Seed Award Winners

• Bear Creek Organic Farm
• Brightmoor Artisans Collective
• Dancing Crane Farm, Broke Labor LLC
• Grow Moore Produce Coop
• Growing Hope
• Green Tree Co-op Market
• In The Business of Food
• Kornr Store LLC
• Lakeview Hills Organic Farm LLC
• Neighborhood Grocery
• Peaches & Greens
• PH Country Style Market
• Pronko Enterprises, LLC
• Radical Plants, LLC
• Stage One Incubator Kitchen
• The Culinary Studio, LLC
• Wispering Wild Market Farm
• Ypsilanti Food Co-op

This round reflects Michigan Good Food Fund’s commitment to investing in promising food and farm businesses that will grow a more resilient and inclusive food system. Awards totaled $142,862 in Detroit Metro, $36,850 in Southeast Michigan, $40,000 in the Upper Peninsula, and $25,000 in Northwest Michigan. From Detroit to the Upper Peninsula, the Michigan Good Food Fund continues to grow its impact. While this round prioritized Metro Detroit—designating up to 60% of Seed Award funding for businesses in the region due to specific funding requirements—awards were also made to food and farm entrepreneurs across the state. This reflects the Fund’s commitment to equity and its dedication to supporting opportunities and addressing needs wherever they are greatest. 

The Seed Awards are designed to help small food businesses accelerate growth through investments that expand access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods; increase economic opportunity for food entrepreneurs; strengthen rural and urban food supply chains; create jobs and support local talent; boost the distribution of Michigan-grown products; and enable sustainable business expansion in underserved communities. 

“Michigan’s food entrepreneurs continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to their communities,” said Shakir Bralock, director, Michigan Good Food Fund at Fair Food Network. “The 2025 Seed Awards not only strengthen our statewide food system but also expand economic mobility and opportunity for locally rooted businesses.”