Value Chain Specialist

Fair Food Network grows community health, wealth, and resilience through food—starting in Michigan and seeding change nationwide. As a nonprofit and investor, we exist so families can eat well, farms and food businesses thrive, and people can keep their food dollars in their own neighborhoods. We believe this is possible only when communities can grow, sell, and buy more local food.

Through our on-the-ground programs, strategic investments, and policy change, we work with partners to strengthen local food economies and expand access to affordable, healthy food across the country.

The Value Chain Specialist is a new role at Fair Food Network focused on strengthening Michigan’s local food economy. Working across programs, this position will provide technical assistance to farmers, retailers, and food businesses to help increase the sourcing, sale, and purchase of Michigan-grown and produced food.

Because this is a new role, the Value Chain Specialist will help shape Fair Food Network’s approach to local sourcing technical assistance. The ideal candidate is a self-starter and relationship builder who can develop new systems, identify opportunities, and strengthen our organizational capacity to connect farmers and food businesses with markets. Experience working with farmers, retailers, food businesses, sales, or other parts of the food value chain is important for success in this role.

The Value Chain Specialist will report to Erica Raml, Vice President of Community Food Impact, and collaborate closely with the Double Up Food Bucks , Michigan Good Food Fund , and Nutrition Incentive Hub teams.

This position is based in Michigan. Regular travel throughout the state and occasional out-of-state travel are required. Candidates must have reliable access to a personal vehicle; work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed. Fair Food Network currently operates in a hybrid work environment. Staff based in southeast Michigan are expected to work from our Detroit office at least one day per week.

Build relationships with Michigan farmers and help growers who are interested in expanding into wholesale markets, particularly grocery stores and food businesses connected to Fair Food Network programs.

• Partner with grower associations, farmers market associations, and other food system organizations to identify farmers interested in expanding into wholesale markets
• Work with partners such as Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to identify farms that are already selling wholesale and may be interested in new grocery or food business customers
• Work with the network of Double Up Food Bucks farmers markets to identify growers with the interest and capacity to expand into wholesale channels
• Provide one-on-one and group technical assistance to help growers prepare for grocery and other wholesale markets. Support may include production planning and scaling, packaging and wholesale readiness, food safety, pricing, and other business needs
• Develop practical tools and roadmaps that help farmers understand and navigate the steps involved in selling to grocery stores and other wholesale customers
• Connect farmers with retailers, food businesses, distributors, food hubs, and other potential buyers

Work with the Double Up Food Bucks and Michigan Good Food Fund networks to help retailers and food businesses increase their sourcing of Michigan-grown and produced food. Because this is an emerging area of work, the Value Chain Specialist will help develop and refine Fair…