Responsible stewards of the earth, literally!

Have you seen these signs at the entrance to Northern Michigan farms and agricultural businesses
lately? If you see an enterprise displaying this sign, they deserve your support. It indicates that they are
doing all that is possible to farm responsibly and protect the quality and the cleanliness of the beautiful
Northern Michigan countryside of which they are a part. In order to earn a sign like this, the business
owner must have completed educational courses offered by the Michigan Agricultural Environmental
Assurance Program and designed to help him make environmentally sound decisions. The courses are
completely voluntary, but a business owner who has completed them will proudly display the sign. It
reflects a commitment to implementing all the environmental protocols that MAEAP endorses in order
to reduce environmental risk. And because MAEAP not only offers the courses, but follows them up with
on site inspections, it also indicates that the business has been verified by the group as being compliant.
So, it means that that farmer or that vintner is committed to keeping his land, not only picturesque and
scenic for future generations, but clean, chemical and pesticide free too. The program is available for
both cropping and livestock farmers, for vintners, brewers growing their own hops or apples, and even
for individuals who own forest or wetland habitat and want to learn how to protect it. It benefits every
individual living up here in Northern Michigan, however.

Local wineries with MAEAP certification: