The document discusses the benefits of The Henry Ford buying local foods from farms like Goetz Farm. It outlines how purchasing local foods offers fresher options for visitors, increases the historic significance of their food, and supports the local economy and food community. Going forward, The Henry Ford plans to work more directly with farms to define products, continue purchasing from other local operations, make new connections, and better explain their local food practices to visitors. The document also provides details about Goetz Farm, a 5th generation family farm that supplies The Henry Ford with various produce grown using organic practices in hoop houses.

1. Nick Seccia,CEC
Jon Goetz
A working farmer/chef relationship

2. Why Buy Local
• Offer fresher food options for visitors
• Increase the historic significance of our
food
• Source raw ingredients from local family
farms
• Utilize local producers in the immediate
economy
• Become a leader and model in the local
food community

3. Buying Local Going
Forward
• Working directly with farmers for more
defined products
• Continued work with other food service
operations to purchase locally raised food
• Continue to make new connections within
the local food community
• Refine the framework of how we explain
our use of local foods to visitors
• Expand our practices Catering

4. Where We Use Local
• Michigan Café – Henry Ford Museum
• Employee Dining – Benson Ford
Research Center
• Eagle Tavern – Greenfield Village
• Taste of History- Greenfield Village
• Local Roots Events – The Henry Ford
• Special Events – The Henry Ford
• Catering – The Henry Ford

5. Goetz Farm
• Goetz Farm in Riga Michigan
• 65 miles from The Henry Ford
• 5th generation family farm since 1880
• Connected with The Henry Ford in 2007 at the
annual FSEP conference

6. Goetz Farm
• Goetz farm was strictly cash crops and livestock
and wanted to get into vegetable production and
farmers markets
• After farmers markets took off John began
looking to expand into wholesale/retail
• Began hoop house production to practice
organic growing methods in a concealed area
for year round production
• Wants to expand hoop house and expand whole
sale business in the form of greens, salad
mixes, vegetables, etc.

7. Hoop House
• Solar sustained “greenhouse”
• Growing season year round
• Organic practices used
• Compost used as main fertilizer

8. Produce
• Onions • Melons
• Leeks • Peppers
• Lettuce • Eggplant
• Spinach • Broccoli
• Beets • Cabbage
• Corn • Brussels sprouts
• Greens • Pumpkins
• Tomatoes • Gourds
• Zucchini • Herbs

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