By DAVID RUNK

Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) -- A number of groups that want to find ways to increase the availability of fresh, healthy food across Michigan and spur economic growth have offered a 10-year vision for making that happen.

The recently released Michigan Good Food Charter outlines a series of priorities to help leverage the state's already diverse agricultural production system and respond to demand for locally grown food.

Michael Hamm leads Michigan State University's C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, which helped develop the charter. He said the idea isn't to displace the state's current agricultural producers and food businesses.

"It is meant to highlight opportunities to add onto what we already have and make it more robust," Hamm said. "To broaden the impact of Michigan agriculture, to think about Michigan agriculture in the context of the Michigan food system and the 10 million Michiganders who need to eat every day."

The charter lays out a number of goals to be reached by 2020, including Michigan institutions getting more of their food products from Michigan growers, producers and processors, and making affordable, fresh, healthy food more widely available. It also seeks to improve the quality of food served in schools.

The charter also will be used to help inform state-level candidates about food issues ahead of the November election, Hamm said.

The Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Michigan Food Policy Council also are part of the effort, which is backed by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Since the fall, work groups have been examining food issues to develop the charter, and the Michigan Good Food Summit was held earlier this year in Lansing.

Tonia Ritter, manager of state governmental affairs for the Michigan Farm Bureau, took a first look at the charter on Friday and said ideas such as re-examining state agriculture laws and regulations so that farmers aren't overburdened also are being worked on by the state's largest farm organization.

"In general, there's a number of things that we could work with stakeholders on to advance," Ritter said.

The Farm Bureau supports efforts to encourage institutions to get more of their food from Michigan producers. To ensure the state's agriculture industry remains diverse, she said attention needs to be given to processing so growers of asparagus, for example, that produce more than Michiganders eat can thrive as well.

The charter is being released at a time when state, local governments and community groups are ramping up efforts to make healthy food more widely available. Not getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables is seen as a public health issue, especially in cities like Detroit where the obesity rate is among the nation's highest.

"There is good work that's happening around the state, but we do have more of it that can be done," said Kirsten G. Simmons, executive director of the Food Policy Council.

A copy of the charter is on the Michigan Good Food website.

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Online:

Michigan Good Food: http://www.michiganfood.org

Some goals outlined by Michigan Good Food Charter

The Associated Press

A list of some goals to be met or exceeded by 2020 as outlined by the recently released Michigan Good Food Charter:

-- Michigan institutions will get 20 percent of their food products from Michigan growers, producers and processors.

-- Michigan farmers will profitably supply 20 percent of Michigan institutional, retailer and consumer food purchases.

-- Michigan will generate new agriculture and food businesses to enable 20 percent of food purchased in Michigan to come from Michigan.

-- Eighty percent of Michigan residents will have easy access to affordable, fresh, healthy food.

-- Twenty percent of affordable, fresh, healthy food for Michigan residents will be from Michigan sources.

-- Michigan Nutrition Standards will be met for all school meals and 75 percent of schools selling food outside meal programs.

-- Michigan schools will incorporate food and agriculture into the pre-K through 12th grade curriculum.

-- Youth will have access to food and agriculture entrepreneurial opportunities.

Source: Michigan Good Food Charter.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.