As a small business owner, nonprofit leader, and farmers market coordinator in Northwest Indiana, I see every week how sustainability, local food, small business development, and community health are connected.
Through Farmed & Forged, we operate farmers markets in Michigan City, La Porte, and Hammond, bringing together local farmers, food producers, artisans, nonprofits, and families. Our markets support regional agriculture, keep dollars circulating locally, and create direct connections between residents and the people growing and producing their food.
Investments in environmental protection, plastic pollution reduction, and sustainable agriculture directly benefit the communities and businesses we work with. Our farmers depend on healthy soil, clean water, pollinator health, and responsible land use. When shoppers buy from local farmers and producers, they are supporting a more connected, community-based food system.
Farmers markets also encourage more sustainable habits, including seasonal eating, reduced packaging, and direct conversations about growing practices, sourcing, and environmental impact. Accessibility is also a major part of sustainability.
Through Farmed & Forged, we accept SNAP/EBT and offer Triple SNAP Match, allowing shoppers to turn a $20 SNAP purchase into up to $60 for fresh, local food. This makes local food more accessible while sending more revenue back to regional farmers and producers. From my perspective, continued investment in sustainability and local food systems is not abstract. It affects whether small farms can continue operating, whether families can access fresh food, whether small businesses can grow, and whether communities have gathering spaces that reflect their values.
Farmers markets are community infrastructure. They support small businesses, strengthen food access, reduce barriers between producers and consumers, and help communities make more sustainable choices in practical, everyday ways.
