Michigan Good Food Fund Launches 2025 Holiday Gift Guide Showcasing Mission-Driven Michigan Food Entrepreneurs

December 16, 2025

The Michigan Good Food Fund has launched its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, featuring locally produced food items from small businesses throughout Michigan that have received financial support and technical assistance from the organization. This statewide initiative focuses on investing in food entrepreneurs who work to improve access to nutritious, affordable food while promoting economic equity, particularly for underrepresented business owners and communities of color. The guide showcases diverse products ranging from farm-raised meats to artisanal goods, organized by category to help shoppers find locally sourced holiday gifts.

Who is affected

Small food and farm business owners across Michigan who received MGFF financing and technical assistance
Entrepreneurs of color and historically underinvested founders
BIPOC, women, and immigrant-owned food businesses
Stage One Incubator Kitchen (recipient of $20,000 Seed Award)
Food startups seeking affordable production space (two to three additional businesses annually expected to benefit from Stage One expansion)
Michigan consumers shopping for holiday gifts
Communities facing limited access to capital and healthy food, particularly in Metro Detroit

What action is being taken

MGFF is releasing and promoting its annual Holiday Gift Guide at https://giftguide.migoodfoodfund.org
The fund is providing loans, grants, coaching, and specialized business support to businesses across the food value chain
MGFF is directing resources to historically underinvested founders and entrepreneurs of color
The technical assistance network is supporting businesses with marketing, operations, finance, and strategic planning
Stage One Incubator Kitchen is implementing targeted upgrades to expand capacity from two to four concurrent users

Why it matters

The Holiday Gift Guide addresses multiple critical needs simultaneously. The holiday season represents a vital sales period for small businesses, and this curated platform provides visibility and customer access to entrepreneurs often overlooked in traditional markets. By prioritizing racial and economic equity, MGFF helps correct historical underinvestment in communities of color and underrepresented founders. The initiative strengthens Michigan's food economy by supporting the entire value chain while improving access to healthy, affordable food in underserved communities. Each purchase through the guide directly contributes to job creation, community vitality, and a more resilient and equitable local food system, making consumer choices tangible drivers of positive social impact.

What's next

Stage One Incubator Kitchen capacity expansion is expected to be completed by Fall 2026
MGFF encourages Michigan residents to explore the Holiday Gift Guide and support featured businesses throughout the season
The organization calls on consumers to share the guide with their networks to uplift local Michigan makers

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle