Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance Records, 1973-2017

Scope and Content Note

The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) records document the evolution of MOFFA from an earlier growers association to an organization with a broader educational mission serving both producers and consumers. The records are arranged in four series: ORGANIC GROWERS OF MICHIGAN (OGM), MICHIGAN ORGANIC GROWERS ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (MOGAP), MICHIGAN ORGANIC FOOD AND FARM ALLIANCE (MOFFA), and AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS.

The ORGANIC GROWERS OF MICHIGAN (OGM) series contains administrative files, including meeting minutes of regional chapters and the state council as well as annual membership meetings, and publications such as brochures and newsletters.

The MICHIGAN ORGANIC GROWERS ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (MOGAP) series documents the beginnings of the organization that would become the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), establishing itself as an educational non-profit organization that could seek charitable support from foundations. Of note are completed questionnaires from board members on their assessment of the organization's structure, mission, and strategy. Also included are annual and board meeting minutes, brochures, and newsletter.

The MICHIGAN ORGANIC FOOD AND FARM ALLIANCE (MOFFA) series documents many of the educational events sponsored by the renamed organization, such as the Harvest Festival and the Michigan Organic Conference; publications including newsletters, the Eating Organically directories, and the book, The Organic Movement in Michigan; reports on organic agriculture in Michigan (2003 and 2006); grants received by MOFFA for various projects, and programs such as the on-farm research grants MOFFA offered from 1998-2001. Also included are histories of MOFFA, mostly by Maynard Kaufman, and other writings by Kaufman reflecting on various farm and economic issues. Also of note are publications related to organic gardening clubs in Michigan, which represent early interest in organics and the influence of J.I. Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine.

The AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS series includes two audio recordings: an interview with Maynard Kaufman and Judy Yaeger about the beginnings of OGM, and a radio interview about organic farming in which two MOFFA members, Merrill Clark and Pat Whetham, participated. Also included are photographs, a poster, and a videorecording of an organic farming workshop with John Clark.