In Traverse City, it’s easy to support sustainable food options. From local and ethical sourcing of ingredients to environmentally conscious farming practices, to commitments to livable wages and just hiring practices, food businesses throughout the region are working hard to make our food community a long-lasting success. How can you take part? Head to events and workshops in the area that allow proud local food makers, farmers, and environmentalists to explain why they do what they do!
Take a look at the options below.
Bake Focaccia and Sample Honey at Interlochen Center for the Arts
In this year’s Sustainability and Nature Lecture and Cooking Series, Interlochen Center for the Arts invites the community to learn about the environment through cooking, artistry, and ecology. This summer-long series includes topics from family-friendly healthy eating to native pollinator plants, with registration costs as low as $20-$40. Learn more and pre-register online!
Become a Coffee Aficionado with Higher Ground’s Learning Lab
Part of the new Commongrounds facility in downtown Traverse City, the Higher Grounds Learning Lab hosts professional development opportunities for those in the local hospitality industry, or more casual classes for folks who simply want to make a quality cup of coffee. Their aim is to support Traverse City’s service industry with quality beverage training, and you can aid their mission by taking a class yourself!
Find Your Favorite Chocolate with Grocer’s Daughter
Do you know where your chocolate comes from? Do you know what makes dark chocolate different than white? Become a chocolate expert at Grocer’s Daughter in Empire! Their hour-long Chocolate Tasting not only allows you to explore your taste buds but delve into what sustainable sourcing looks like for a Michigan-based company. Sign up online!
Head to the (Farm) Club for a Tour
Nationally-acclaimed Farm Club not only crafts incredible meals but also has a busy event schedule focused on uplifting local nonprofits and creative professionals. Learn about the bike trail connecting to their property and discover new favorite recipes from Michigan Cookbook authors. Be sure to check out their once-a-month farm and garden tours on-site, led by the owners who share their connection to the earth and the food that comes from honoring it. Purchase your $15 ticket on their website!
Steep Yourself in Sustainability at Light of Day Tea Farm
Tea plants, or camellia sinensis, usually thrive in climates far away from Traverse City. Thanks to the use of hoop houses and biodynamic farming practices, Light of Day Organics grows and makes incredible tea on-site, as well as herbal ingredients for tisanes. Learn more about their farming practices while enjoying a 20-ounce cup of your favorite hot or cold beverage during their twice-monthly tours during the growing season, which can be scheduled in conjunction with their Tea Wellness Workshop.
Spice up your sustainability journey with a unique experience in Traverse City!
