Food For Thought needs your help
After being named Benzie County Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year last October, Food for Thought's future may be threatened. The company was informed that it needs to apply for a Special Land Use Permit to continue doing business, and there is some opposition to their application. Please show your support for Food for Thought by writing to the zoning administrator or attending a zoning board hearing June 4. If you're tight for time, just post a comment here by May 28, along with your name and city, and I will print this off and send it to the zoning administrator.
Timothy Young started Food for Thought in 1995 in his home on Oviatt Road, in Honor, Michigan. Two years later he built the green building they are now in next door on the same property. Since that time, Food for Thought has grown into a model business for our region. Whether you're into the enviro green or the "show me the money" green, Food for Thought has your particular shade covered. Let's count the ways:
Shines the spotlight of positive national media attention on northern Michigan: appeared on the Food Network's Unwrapped program in January; earned a best salsa designation in May's Vegetarian Times.
Named Business of the Year 2007 by the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce; was honored last month as one of the Michigan 50 Companies To Watch; and is currently one of 10 finalists for the Traverse City Chamber's 2008 Hagerty Small Business of the Year award.
Offers private label packaging for more than 30 other businesses making gourmet organic barbeque sauces, preserves, salad dressings and salsas.
Provided facilities for local students to take part in a fundraising project that produced jam and a marinara sauce to support the Fresh Food Partnership.
Active supporter of community: President Timothy Young is currently vice chair of the Michigan Land Use Institute; a former chair of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council; and has shared his expertise teaching classes at the Epicurean Classic.
Follows organic and fair trade practices.
I could go on and on, but I encourage you to visit Food for Thought's web site, and especially view About Us, Our Philosophy, and Timothy's Bio.
Then, if you feel this company is worth keeping around, voice your support. Timothy includes the details for sending letters and attending the hearing in his letter below.
Letter from Timothy Young, President/Chef, Food for Thought
Dear Friends of Food For Thought:
I'm writing you to ask for your help. We've been informed by the new Zoning Administrator in Benzie County that we need to apply for a Special Land Use Permit to operate our business at it's current location (We were told many years ago by the previous administrator that we didn't need one, but that's another issue and really not the point right now). So our future rests in the hands of the Benzie County Planning Commission.
It is our belief that on-farm value-added processing and eco-tourist destinations like Food For Thought, wineries, CSAs and other food artisans are critical to preserving our rural landscapes and building a sustainable and reliable local food economy. Counties all over the country are reassessing their zoning to remove barriers to local food production and Benzie County is doing a fine job off addressing their zoning as it relates to this issue. However, there are forces that feel otherwise and they are opposing our application.
Here's what I'd like to ask. I'd be very appreciative if you could write a letter to our local zoning administrator expressing your feelings about this issue. If you share these values, please let them know. If you do business with Food For Thought or we have some positive impact on your business or quality of life, please share. The important thing is that they get some letters of support. If you don't share our view, your comments are also appreciated. We anticipate a civil dialogue among concerned citizens and all views are welcome. Letters are due by 5:00p June 3rd and can be addressed to:
Craig Seger
Zoning Administrator
Benzie Zoning Department
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617
The second thing you could do if you have the time is attend our Zoning Board hearing. It will take place at the Platte Township Hall on June 4th at 7p.m. The town hall is located at 11935 Fowler Rd., Honor, MI 49640 (at the corner of CR 677, Benzonia Hwy). There will be a public comment period if you feel you would like to express your concerns.
Please spread the word, and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your consideration.
With kind regards,
Timothy Fitzgerald Young
President/Chef
Filed under News & Views
Comments
Thursday, May. 15, 2008
Heather Brady
I urge the Benzie County Planning Commission to support Food for Thought. It is imperative that we support our local businesses who contribute to the tax base and the local economy, in particular businesses such as Food for Thought who do their utmost to conduct themselves in a manner holistically beneficial. Their product quality is excellent--the Blueberry Lavender jam became my son's favorite when he was three years old. If we collectively don't support our local businesses, what kind of message are we sending?
Thursday, May. 15, 2008
Jenn Ryan
Dear Zoning Administrator/Benzie- As a native of Benzie County and a concerned citizen who makes daily choices to think and act globally and locally as well as to in particular support local, organic efforts to supply food and sustenance that I feel good about partaking in, I support Food For Thought 100% and ask you to please support their future efforts & continued success by allowing them to maintain their location and positive influence on our community and the world.
Sincerely, jenn ryan
Thursday, May. 15, 2008
Charles Enda McGonigle
Dear Mr. Seger,
Please approve the application from Food for Thought for a Special Land Use Permit so that thay can continue doing business. We must support locally owned and operated businesses.
Sunday, May. 18, 2008
Jen Harris
To all at the Benzie County Zoning Department, The organization Food for Thought has created something good here in our area; an environmentally respectful, absolutely delicious line of locally made products. It is my hope that you can not only approve their application for a Special Land Use Permit but do so without reservation for it is businesses like this one that help define our community as well as support it! Thank you. Jen Harris
Sunday, May. 18, 2008
Shannon Brodeur
Dear Mr. Seger:
It is my sincere hope that you will approve the application from Food for Thought for a Special Land Use Permit. They are a model for success in the area and an inspiration to others. Thank you.
Monday, May. 19, 2008
Marcia Limbocker
I work at TBAISD Career Tech Center. Our Agri-Science students had the privilege of working with Timothy Young and Food for Thought last fall. He taught our students about entrepreneurship, work ethic, and producing a delicious, organic product. I find it incomprehensible that you would not approve the application from Food For Thought for a Special Land Use Permit. Timothy Young's vision, reverence, and ethical standards for our environment and human welfare are exemplary to say the least. Simply stated, our community, our country, our planet needs more Timothy Youngs to lead us into the future. If you have not already done so, please visit the Food for Thought website, treat yourself to some of the products they offer, and see for yourself what a jewel we have right here in our midst. In doing so, I trust that you will come to believe that Food for Thought must be allowed to thrive. Thank you.
Tuesday, May. 27, 2008
T.J. Keyes-Triple D Orchards Inc. Empire, Michigan
To whom it may concern: I am a landowner in Benzie/Leelanau/ and Grand Traverse counties and am ultimately in charge of over 200 full time and 600 seasonal employees in our region. Our family of businesses is ag-related mainly cherry. I have lived near and worked with FFT on many different levels and I can tell you the buzz is true about Tim Young and Company on how they live and do their business locally. They contribute to the local economy, pay taxes, employ people from the area, promote local agri-business and added value products, are eco-friendly etc. We do not have the opportunity locally many days to be able to support local business in this fashion, so let's help. I believe that FFT is doing a wonderful Job of operating their business and are not having a detrimental effect at all doing business the way they are doing it. Let them live. Thanks in advance.
Tuesday, May. 27, 2008
Bonnie C. Ihme
Dear Mr. Craig Seger, We’ve lived directly to the right of our friends and neighbors, Timothy and Kathy Young of Food For Thought, for nearly 14 years now, and in no way have we had any problems relating to their business or otherwise. I believe their intention for their business, as well as their personal life has all to do with the conservation of this earth and they would in no way be inclined to harm it. Their products are wonderful and we look forward to enjoying them for many years to come. Our neighborhood has continued to be a relatively quiet one and they have in no way taken from our quality of a peaceful life here on the outskirts of town. We feel they along with other local food artisans are critical to preserving our rural landscapes and building a sustainable and reliable local food economy. Please, approve their application for a land use permit. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Jason and Bonnie Ihme
Tuesday, May. 27, 2008
Angela Macke
Dear Mr. Seger, We are the owners of 25 acres of certified Organic land in Leelanau County, on which we grow and produce food specialty products.
The purpose of our letter today, is to sound our full support for Food for Thought: a local foods producer, and beneficial land steward for their property, which neighbors a national treasure: the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Please consider allowing Food for Thought to continue their operations at present location by approving their land use permit.
As you are well aware, this business has received much recognition and many awards in the past, due to it's fine products, but also because Food for Thought is a stellar example of a zero-low impact industry. They have dedicated themselves to educating the public about this very issue, and we commend them on their annual Green Cuisine campaign.
Thank you for including our letter in your file of support letters.
Angela and Vince Macke
Wednesday, May. 28, 2008
Kari Tomashik
Dear Mr. Seger, Food for Thought is an amazing organic business located in Northern Michigan. Food for Thought turns all their extra scraps of fruit, vegetables, etc. into compost that later is applied to the soil. Compost is full of nutrients and minerals and enriches the soils life to feed the flowers and vegetables at Food for Thought. Their commitment to do something positive for the earth, for the community, and for our palates is extraordinary. Please allow Food for Thought to continue their operations at their current location by approving their land use permit. Food for Thought has created a successful organic and sustainable business in Northern Michigan. Let's applaud their efforts, not ask them to go away. Let's keep Food for Thought right where they are at.
Sincerely, Kari Tomashik