Lansing, November 17, 2005 - The Michigan Food Policy Council (MFPC) will hold its first regional Public Listening Session in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 7, 2005. The Public Listening Sessions are opportunities for the public to provide comments and recommendations to the Council relating to its charge.

Created by Executive Order 2005-13 and funded in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the MFPC brings diverse food-related stakeholders together to recommend programs and policies to the Governor that cultivate a safe, healthy and available food supply to all of Michigans residents while building on the states agricultural diversity to enhance economic growth.

The Grand Rapids Public Listening Session is being held in conjunction with the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO. The session is scheduled from 4:15pm - 6:15pm at DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Gallery Room C. All interested parties are welcome to attend the listening session.

In order to make sound policy recommendations, the Council needs input from Michigan citizens, said Kristin Brooks, executive coordinator for the MFPC. We hope folks attending the Expo and those living in the area who are interested in food, agriculture, economic and health issues come out to speak with us on December 7th.

More information on the Grand Rapids Public Listening Session and the Michigan Food Policy Council is available at www.mda.state.mi.us/mfpc.