Portage Health partners with local farm market for produce
The Portage branch of UP Health System in Houghton-Hancock has announced they’ll be partnering with a local farmer to provide fresh, local produce in the hospital’s cafe.
Niemela’s Market Gardens in Pelkie started bringing in fresh-grown vegetables to the Portage hospital this week. Owner and farmer James Niemela says they started growing produce for market in 2008 and grow naturally, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
“We are happy to partner with UP Health System – Portage to provide fresh, local, naturally-grown vegetables for their patients, staff, and visitors,” says Niemela. “We appreciate the opportunity to broaden our market and share our produce with more residents of the Copper Country.”
Among the produce the hospital cafe will use from Niemela’s is lettuce, carrots, beets, chard, kale, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, escarole, endive, leeks, green onions, cabbage, and broccoli.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Portage Health
Author
Related Articles
Nearly $300K in Seed Awards bolster Michigan’s local food and farming
Nearly $300,000 in Seed Awards from the Michigan Good Food Fund will support 18 food and farm businesses across Michigan, helping small, locally rooted operations grow and improve food access.
Dental therapy offers Michigan an innovative path to expand essential oral health care
Michigan introduces licensed dental therapists to address provider shortages, empowering students to deliver vital community care.
Meeting rural Michiganders’ mental health care needs
Michigan’s rural residents face different challenges when accessing mental health care than residents of urban areas. Transportation issues, loneliness, and limited group therapy options can compound their mental health needs. To address these challenges, community mental health (CMH) agencies innovate community-based solutions that meet their populations where they are at.
