Western UP Residents Invited to Contribute to Regional Food Systems Assessment

Upper Peninsula residents who reside in Keweenaw, Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic, Iron or Ontonagon counties are invited to take a survey about our local food systems. The survey is the first of its kind in the Western U.P.

"We hope to learn more about food access as well as local food culture," said Dr. Angie Carter, one of the researchers leading the project from Michigan Technological University. "That includes preserving, hunting, gardening and fishing. This survey is part of a research project that will inform future programs for the Western Upper Peninsula."

Surveys are being mailed to a random selection of area residents beginning the first week of March. The survey is also available online for all residents to particpate. Interested residents may access it using the following link,surveymonkey.com/r/wupfoodsurvey. The online survey is administered through Survey Monkey; neither Michigan Tech or Survey Monkey will not collect IP addresses. The online survey is open now and will close on March 31, 2022. It's estimated the survey should take 20-to-30 minutes to complete. Only one person per household may complete the survey. The survey is open to all Keweenaw, Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic, Iron, and Ontonagon County residents 18 years of age or older.

This research is sponsored by Portage Health Foundation and conducted by Dr. Carter at Michigan Tech working in partnership with the Western Upper Peninsula Food Systems Collaborative.

Those with questions regarding this research study are invited to contact Dr. Angie Carter by email (ancarter@mtu.edu), phone (906) 487-1431, or mail at Department of Social Sciences, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931.