Innovative retail model intends to deliver ‘what farmers need and what local communities want’ as national conference returns to Michigan in ‘26

What’s happening: Michigan will host the third annual National Farm Stop Conference in
February 2026, drawing national leaders in the local foods movement as they extoll the benefits
of the Farm Stop model, an innovative approach to connecting small farms with more
customers.

What it is: Farm Stops are the latest innovation in local food retail, a year-round and daily
market where farmers retain ownership of their products and set their own prices in an
exclusively local and professional grocery setting. The burgeoning retail model has been
adopted in more than a dozen states, including Michigan, with 24 such markets currently
operating and another ten in the process of opening.

Why it’s important: “Farmers earn more, consumers enjoy convenient access to high-quality,
locally grown food, and the markets are able to educate consumers about the farms very
clearly,” says Kate Krause, CEO of the national nonprofit organization Fair Food Network.
Local roots: The Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor is hosting the Third Annual National Farm Stop
Conference in partnership with the Fair Food Network. The Ann Arbor store provides a success
story for the movement and Michigan, having distributed $4.4 million to local farms and
producers in 2024 while their top-selling 75 farms made an average of $44,000 each.

What to expect: The event will gather Farm Stop operators, policymakers, and other
stakeholders for networking opportunities, workshops, panel discussions, and more. One such
workshop will include author Mark Winne, a Senior Advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for a
Livable Future.

“I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the U.S. food movement since the 1970s,” says Winne.
“During that time, I’ve borne witness to numerous innovations that have allowed us to gain ever
more control over our food system. The Farm Stop model is particularly inspiring, that shows
considerable promise for strengthening the viability of both farmers and communities.”

The Third Annual National Farm Stop Conference is scheduled from Feb. 12 through Feb. 15,
2026, in Ann Arbor, with registration information available online.