Eastern Market Expands Investment in Local Growers
Eastern Market Partnership, in collaboration with the City of Detroit’s Office of Sustainability Urban Agriculture Division, has announced $240,000 in grant funding to support Detroit-based farmers and farmer collectives. The grants will advance food access, climate education, sustainable land use, and economic opportunity, with priority given to Black- and Indigenous-led farms, youth-led initiatives, and projects rooted in historically disinvested neighborhoods. The recipients – ranging from cooperatives and community gardens to individual urban farms – were selected through a competitive request for proposals process. The funding builds on Eastern Market’s broader efforts to strengthen Detroit’s local food ecosystem, including expanded purchasing programs for urban growers, wholesale distribution improvements, and ongoing infrastructure investments such as the redevelopment of Shed 7. SBN Detroit interviewed Katy Trudeau, president and CEO of Eastern Market, about why this investment matters now, how it supports Detroit’s evolving urban agriculture landscape, and what it signals for the future of local food systems. Q: From Eastern Market’s perspective, why was this the right moment to invest in Detroit’s urban farmers at this scale? A: We’ve been building toward this moment for a few years. In 2023, Eastern Market was awarded Local Food Purchasing Assistance funding through the USDA, which created a dedicated channel for purchasing produce from Detroit’s urban farms. That program reinforced something many of us saw during the pandemic – long supply chains are vulnerable, and there is real importance in strengthening local food systems. Through that federal program, roughly 60 percent of our purchasing went directly to Detroit-based urban growers, with the remainder sourced from regional partners. It proved that we had both the supply and the community demand to sustain a more localized system. The City Council’s decision to award this new grant funding gives us another tool to invest directly in that growing network of urban farmers who are feeding Detroiters. We’ve long supported many of these growers through Saturday Market vending opportunities and other initiatives. This grant allows us to deepen that commitment and build on the foundation already in place. Q: Urban farming has long been part of Detroit’s identity. How do you see its role evolving today? A: Urban agriculture is a micro-industry in Detroit, but it plays an outsized role. It is directly responsive to the need for shorter supply chains. Growing food locally that we can eat locally strengthens access to nutrient-dense food and reduces reliance on distant systems. Many of the farms receiving grants are not only producing food but also teaching residents how to grow their own. That educational component is critical. It builds long-term capacity and strengthens food security at the neighborhood level. There are also broader impacts. Urban farms create gathering spaces where neighbors meet neighbors. They generate small-business opportunities and, in some cases, provide employment and workforce development. They help stabilize vacant land and turn it into productive community assets. It’s economic development, environmental stewardship, and social infrastructure all in one. Q: Why was the focus on Black- and Indigenous-led farms essential to the design of the program? A: Detroit is a majority-Black city, and much of the farming happening here is led by Black growers. We want investment dollars to reflect and support the communities where the work is taking place. One of the grant recipients is an Indigenous farmer who is focused on sharing the cultural importance of Indigenous agricultural practices. That educational lens adds another layer of value to the program. Supporting Black- and Brown-owned businesses has long been part of Eastern Market’s mission. Our Saturday Market vendors represent a wide diversity of entrepreneurs. This grant aligns with that broader commitment to equitable investment and representation. Q: What does food sovereignty mean in a Detroit context? A: To me, food sovereignty is about creating the ability for people to feed themselves locally, without complete reliance on large corporations or distant supply chains. Eastern Market has always played a role in that. As a public market, we provide a space where Detroiters can shop locally and support regional growers. The pandemic made clear how important local capacity can be. This grant program also supports farms that are teaching others how to grow, preserve, and prepare food. It’s about increasing independence and resilience at the household and neighborhood level. Q: How does supporting small-scale, community-based growers impact the broader regional food system? A: Michigan has a robust and diverse agricultural industry, thanks in part to our climate and access to freshwater. What we’re seeing with urban agriculture is the next generation of that legacy. Urban farming represents a micro-scale version of a long-standing agricultural tradition in Southeast Michigan. As we continue investing in it, we’re strengthening a more diversified regional food economy. Over time, as urban agriculture grows as an industry, it can become a stronger economic driver. It also reinforces the importance of regional and state-level support for local food systems. Q: How does urban agriculture reshape the conversation around Detroit’s vacant land? A: My background is in urban planning, so I think about land use a lot. Vacant land can serve different purposes depending on the context. Some farms are temporary land uses that beautify or remediate vacant lots. Others have become permanent economic enterprises that are deeply integrated into their neighborhoods. They are respected, loved, and woven into the urban fabric. Urban agriculture can address vacant land challenges in multiple ways, whether through short-term stabilization or long-term economic development. It gives neighborhoods options. Q: Looking at the selected recipients, what excites you most about the diversity of approaches represented? A: The diversity is incredibly exciting. When we reviewed the applications, we were struck by how much innovation is happening across the city. Some grantees are focused on cooking classes and community nutrition education. Others, like the Grow Moore Produce Cooperative, are leveraging the collective strength of multiple farms to provide training and shared resources. There are also initiatives that help growers turn what they cultivate into value-added products for sale at farmers’ markets. From seed starting to preservation
Urban Farming in Detroit
Planted Detroit is a vertical farming company located in the heart of the city, dedicated to redefining the way fresh produce is grown and distributed. By leveraging Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and a commitment to biosecurity, the company focuses on producing high-quality greens year-round while minimizing environmental impact. Its model aims to ensure fresher, longer-lasting food while reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional farming and long-distance transportation. SBN Detroit interviewed CEO and founder Tom Adamczyk to discuss the company’s sustainability efforts, how vertical farming plays a role in reshaping the food system, and what this means for businesses and consumers in Southeast Michigan. Q: Your background is in finance – what prompted the shift to develop Planted Detroit? A: Yes, my background is in capital markets and finance, particularly mergers, acquisitions, and investment management. Part of that work involved identifying emerging technologies and investment opportunities, with a specific focus on agriculture and sustainability. Through this research, I began looking at broader issues within the food supply chain and seeing systemic issues. Consumers are often paying higher prices for food that is lower in quality, and much of that is due to inefficiencies in how food is grown, transported, and distributed. A significant portion of fresh produce travels thousands of miles before reaching grocery stores, which impacts its nutritional value and shelf life while increasing costs and environmental impact. In 2016–2017, I started researching alternative agricultural models, including controlled environment agriculture. Vertical farming stood out as a viable approach to addressing these challenges. Rather than just investing in the sector, I wanted to fully understand how to make vertical farming both sustainable and economically viable – and be a part of it. That led to the launch of Planted Detroit in 2018. Q: Why did you choose vertical farming as your model? What advantages does it offer in terms of sustainability? A: I evaluated multiple controlled environment agriculture models, including greenhouse farming but determined that vertical farming had more scalability potential in urban environments and was more aligned with what I think needs to be done on a large scale for mass food production. The ability to grow vertically also makes it possible to produce more food within a smaller physical footprint. Compared to traditional farming, this method uses fewer natural resources while maintaining consistent production levels. Q: How do you approach energy efficiency in vertical farming? A: When I first started researching vertical farming, LED lighting technology was still evolving. The legalization of cannabis led to significant advancements in this area, as companies like GE and Philips invested in more efficient, cost-effective grow lights. This helped drive down costs and improve performance, making vertical farming more viable at scale. LED lighting systems now allow for adjustments to optimize plant growth and energy use. These new lighting systems generate less heat, which means we only use and pay for the photons needed for plant growth. One of our lights allows us to tune the spectrum from red to blue, which not only impacts the plant’s taste and growth but also improves energy efficiency. Q: How does vertical farming contribute to a more sustainable food system in Southeast Michigan? A: One of the primary challenges in food systems is access to fresh, high-quality produce, and locally based food production can play a role in improving availability. Growing food year-round in a climate like Michigan’s is an advantage in itself. Seasonal limitations often mean that fresh produce must be imported from across the country. By producing food locally, we can shorten the time between harvest and consumption, helping to preserve both nutritional value and quality. In the long term, the goal is to establish a model where fresh, nutrient-rich food is widely accessible, whether through direct-to-consumer sales, grocery stores, or partnerships. Q: What other sustainability practices are in place at Planted Detroit? A: As I mentioned, energy efficiency is a key consideration, both from an environmental and operational standpoint. Lighting and climate control systems are continuously optimized to minimize energy consumption while maintaining stable growing conditions. Water usage is another critical factor. Vertical hydroponic systems allow for 95% less water consumption compared to traditional farming methods. Our system feeds the plants at their root systems with nutrient-dosed water that is then recirculated and cycled back through the plants. This saves a lot of water. In terms of waste management, growing media is used only once per crop cycle and then composted. Local organizations, including Sanctuary Farms, repurpose the composted material, creating a closed-loop system that supports other agricultural efforts in the area. Food waste is also minimized. Any excess products that cannot be sold are donated through Food Rescue U.S. to prevent unnecessary landfill contributions. Packaging materials are continuously evaluated to maximize recyclability. Q: How does Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) compare to traditional farming in terms of resource efficiency? A: Water conservation is one of the most significant benefits. With increasing climate challenges, particularly droughts, the ability to grow food using a fraction of the water required by traditional agriculture is an important factor. Energy consumption is often discussed in relation to CEA, as artificial lighting does require electricity. However, when considering the entire supply chain—including long-haul transportation, refrigeration, and food spoilage—vertical farming presents efficiencies that help offset its energy use. Additionally, because production is demand-driven, it reduces overproduction and associated waste. Q: How do vertical farming and a shorter supply chain benefit businesses and consumers? A: Reducing the number of steps between food production and consumption improves both freshness and sustainability. My goal is farm-to-fork. People should be able to buy their food directly from the farm and put it in their refrigerator. With urban farming, food can be harvested and delivered within a short timeframe, preserving its quality and reducing spoilage. While scaling this model presents logistical challenges, it represents a shift toward a more localized and efficient food system. Q: Who are your main customers, and how do they influence your sustainability goals? A: Most of our customers
