Does your grocery store support Michigan-grown food?

View PFC Local Producers in a larger map

Maybe you've noticed how grocery stores are getting more tech-savvy. They haven't yet started making personal nutrition recommendations based on a BMI indicator as you walk in the store, but it seems like they all have websites now.

Since I want to support Michigan farms, I'm interested in where my grocery store gets its food. In general, I'd like to know which grocers do the most to seek out and buy from local producers.

While it's easy to say "we love local farms," thanks to technology tools, specific information is becoming more easily available about where my dollars can actually support Michigan farms.

Photo by Flickr user Jessica Mullen

It's been interesting to see how independent grocers in Ann Arbor are working to communicate their values via online technology. It's becoming de rigeur to also set up a Facebook account and a Twitter feed — and even these can be useful sometimes.

For example, I follow The Produce Station on Twitter, and the store sends updates about things like the arrival of Michigan rhubarb.

I'm now Facebook "friends" with The People's Food Co-op, and it recently knocked my socks off with two big things: It started selling Michigan beer and wine and now lists all its Michigan producers on a Google map.

Since it's popular for stores to say "we support Michigan," I've tried to track down what information other groceries make available about where they get their food (starting with the nice list of grocery stores on ArborWiki of course).

The Produce Station has a great "Michigan Made" list, but doesn't include farms for its produce. And while I know that Arbor Farms buys from many local producers (especially meat), I couldn't find information about it online.

Same with Sparrow Market. Local chain superstore Meijer has a website that's totally tricked out with RSS feeds, text and voice alerts, and even YouTube videos, but its HomeGrown Produce section is a little bare.

Although many of our other chain groceries don't necessarily list the farms they deal with, they have "local commitment" statements about their support for local farms: Hiller's, Plum Market and Whole Foods, in particular.

Once again, The People's Food Co-op impressed me with the level of analysis in its "Why Local" statement.

I follow the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Twitter and check Real Time Farms for what's going on at the farmers markets in the area, too.

But when the markets are closed and I need to stock the pantry, I like knowing I can go online to see where I can put my grocery dollars to support Michigan farms.

Trending next according to recent news is the Zero Packaging Grocery. Aren't those also known as bulk food stores? And of course, Ann Arbor's By the Pound doesn't seem to have its own website yet, but it already has that trend covered.

Kim Bayer is a freelance writer and culinary researcher. Email her at kimbayer@gmail.com