Mason jars of red cabbage

IMPACT PARTNERSHIPS

Work With Us to Advance Local Food

Collards at Sylvia's SWEET Farm

Our partnerships make us a standout in local food marketing and food systems support.

That’s because we partner with economic development agencies, nonprofits, schools, health departments, farmers markets, food-system support organizations, state agencies, federal programs, and more across the U.S. to expand the impact local food can have both for producers and consumers. 

We do this by cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships tailored to the needs and goals of each organization. Whether you want support with a single project or to pilot an entire program with us…we’d love to help!

Many of these partnerships are made possible through existing funding for social impact projects or clients choosing to write us into their grant proposals.

LET'S COLLABORATE
Four staff members from Taste the Local Difference with jøn kent of Sanctuary Farms in Detroit

Our team at Sanctuary Farms, a Fresh Food Connections participant.

$734,007

in marketing services provided at no cost to 285 farms & food businesses since 2021 with funding from our Impact Partners.

100%

of supported farms & food businesses say they’d recommend TLD services to another local food business.

200%

74% of our clients report an average of 200% ROI in their first year after TLD marketing services.

  • “TLD is a well-connected organization with a wealth of experience in supporting the small farm movement by taking marketing and branding to the next level. Their unwavering support and impact is much appreciated. The sky is the limit in terms of collaborating with them.”

    JAMES CAGLE, CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  • “TLD presented two terrific workshops to our clients, with the goal of providing education around marketing initiatives. During workshops, they really take the time to answer personalized questions. The most positive outcome of partnering with TLD, and what they do best, was providing clients with marketing knowledge that builds confidence that their business can reach successful outcomes.”

    JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

  • There is no one better positioned in Michigan to support marketing of local food system entities. They are very comfortable and supportive of working with nonprofits and understanding the needs and requirements of working within grant and/or contract funding. Their connections to others working through the state and country is also extremely valuable to building additional partnerships and placing your work within larger contexts.

    MICHIGAN FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION (MIFMA)

Need financial support to fund marketing efforts for your food or farm business?

Check out our guide to finding funding sources and writing a proposal that funders will be eager to support!

How to Find Funding For Your Next Marketing Project blog post

Learn About Our Impact Projects

  • A green. head of lettuce in a person's hands

    CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CADE)

    Explore our partnership and how we provided marketing services for five New York farms.

    View Case study

  • FOOD SPICE

    Learn how we partnered with the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems through the Food SPICE program.

    View case study
  • A group of people on a farm near a pile of compost

    FRESH FOOD CONNECTIONS

    Get details on the Fresh Food Connections program and how we’ve supported 25 Michigan farms.

    VIEW CASE STUDY

MIFMA

MIFMA, Michigan Farmers Market Association, was established in 2006 as a statewide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers markets. The number of farmers markets in Michigan has grown from around 90 in 2001 to nearly 300 in 2023.

Over the years we’ve partnered with MIFMA in a variety of ways:

Quarts of potatoes at a Michigan farmers market
A basket of decorative gourds at a Michigan farmers market

What Our Impact Looks Like:

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

We’ve worked with a food entrepreneur incubator program to deliver marketing and technical assistance services to their participants.

EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

Alongside a university extension program, we created educational content and training videos focused on food systems marketing and business development.

MARKETING MATERIALS & RESOURCES

We’ve developed marketing materials and resources for multiple producer associations and organizations, including MIFMA, MIFFS, MI CSA Network & CSA Innovation Network.

FARM-TO-SCHOOL

TLD has assisted in facilitating farm-to-school programming and procurement, including supporting Michigan's Department of Education to add more wholesale farms to their Farm to Program Directory. This will make it easier for food program operators across the state to procure more Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans for schools, ECEs, and community service agencies.

PILOT PROGRAMS

We developed an innovative program to provide small farmers with funding and marketing services. We’ve supported them in adding a revenue stream by connecting them with SNAP recipients in their area, simultaneously increasing access to fresh, local food.

LOCAL FOOD CONSULTING

We’ve partnered as a local food marketing expert with national networks such as CSA Innovation Network, Midwest Vegetable Growers Network, & Nutrition Incentive Hub (NIH) Local Sourcing Cohort.

DATA COLLECTION

We’ve worked to streamline data collection into unified databases, found gaps in previously collected data sets and updated them, built segmented iFrames of shared data for partners, and exported anonymous survey results for public consumption to enhance research, advocacy, and economic development.

& MORE

In addition to those listed above, we support organizations with several other services: targeted outreach, webinars, and curriculum development.

To learn more, view our Impact Report, or contact Erika Tebbens, Director of Impact.

VIEW THE REPORT
CONTACT ERIKA

Our Impact Partners Include: