Upper Peninsula farmers have a chance to expand into off-season produce with a new grant from the U.P. Food Exchange.
The high tunnel grant program allows commercial farmers of any size to help expand their infrastructure with a $12,000 grant to build non-seasonal greenhouses.
U.P. Food Exchange has created several grants in the past to help local farmers, which also help consumers get easier access to locally-grown produce. In previous years, they provided vouchers to encourage people to buy food at local farmers' markets. This year, the exchange hopes to help those farms increase their crops.
High tunnels, or hoop houses, are a type of greenhouse with a plastic covering that shields plants from the elements while allowing sunlight to come through, meaning farmers can grow plants out of season or grow plants that are not normally from the region.
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