Michigan is home to more than 51,000 farms — more than 95 percent of which are family owned and operated.

Our farmers are the heart and soul of a food and agriculture industry that contributes $101.2 billion annually to Michigan’s economy and employs more than 923,000 workers — about 22 percent of the state’s employment.

I am proud to have recently launched a “Thank a Farmer” initiative to give residents an easy way to thank our farmers for all they do to help feed our families and the nation.

Residents can visit www.SenatorJohnProos.com/thank-a-farmer to join me in contributing letters of appreciation to area farmers and also describe their favorite thing about Southwest Michigan produce. My office will then forward the comments to farmers throughout the region.

I encourage residents to send in their thoughts about the abundant and wonderful fresh foods produced by area farmers. I am sure that our hardworking farmers would love to hear about how the blueberry pie you picked up was the best you ever had or that you appreciate the healthy fruits and vegetables your kids crave.

Michigan is the nation’s leading producer of several foods, including cultivated blueberries, and July is National Blueberry Month.

How many blueberries are we talking about? According to MSU Extension, blueberry growers in Michigan typically produce more than 100 million pounds of 30 different blueberry varieties each year across more than 21,000 acres of farmland — contributing more than $122 million to the state’s economy.

While my family and I love blueberries and it makes sense to launch this initiative at the start of the blueberry harvest season, this initiative is about highlighting and saying thanks to all our farmers — who grow one of the nation’s most diverse set of crops and produce.

 

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents Southwest Michigan.