BRAVE
innovative ideas, inclusive strategies, earnest workplans, and sure footed implementations puts your food system project on solid
GROUND
Christine Quane
Christine Quane, principal, is a visionary leader with over a decade of expertise in sustainable food systems, value coordination and entrepreneurial development. Known for her strategic acumen and dedication to equity, she has successfully secured over $10 million in grant funding and led numerous initiatives that have transformed local food economies. She has pioneered groundbreaking programs that connect underserved farmers to wholesale buyers, led food security efforts addressing food access, and has driven innovative food entrepreneurial economic development projects.
With a proven track record in program development, fundraising, and coalition building, Christine excels in leading cross-functional teams and navigating complex challenges. Her commitment to fostering equity and inclusion is reflected in every project she leads, making her a transformative force in reshaping food systems for lasting impact.
From steering USDA food security programs to guiding over 30 food business start-ups, Christine is all about making good food accessible, while championing global majority food and farm businesses and nurturing entrepreneurial talent. Whether she’s balancing budgets or giving keynote speeches, Christine is a powerhouse of creativity, impact, and heart, bringing lasting change to every project she touches!
Let’s get started
Services
Food Entrepreneurial Programming
Do you have a kitchen but need help developing programming that supports your food entrepreneurs as they scale?
Do you need one on one mentorship for your food business start up?
Do you need educational tools, workshops and webinars to support your food entrepreneurial program?
Christine can provide comprehensive strategies and support to create the programming you need.
Value Chain Coordination
Are you looking for local produce and or value added products for your institution, restaurant, or grocery retail establishment?
Do you need support for your farm to food assistance grant program?
Do you need a strategy to move food from here to there?
Christine can help you connect the dots between supply, aggregation and distribution.
Grocery Retail Design
Are you looking to build a local food grocery retail establishment or a farm stop and need support on kitchen/cafe design, floor layout, licensing, and local food supply sourcing?
Christine can consult with your team to make sure the space delivers maximum value and customer experience to your future patrons.
Shared Use Commercial Kitchens
Are you considering retrofitting a space for a shared use commercial kitchen, but don’t know where to start?
Do you want to know if a shared use commercial kitchen makes sense for your community?
Do you need operational support and internal management systems for your existing kitchen?
Christine can help you think through all aspects of your project, can assemble a feasibility analysis, and create the systems needed to get your kitchen up and running in no time.
Experience
VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION
Grow Eastern Market (GEM) Food Hub, 2016 to 2023, Eastern Market Partnership: Co-wrote Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Local Food Promotion (LFPP) grant, created worktable, budget, narrative, and program design. Worked with Chief Development Officer to obtain refrigerated Ford Transit delivery vehicle. Partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for additional program funding. Co-developed online wholesale platform to manage inventory and sales of food hub. Led full time staff of 2, part time staff of 3. Coordinated logistics from farm gate, to receiving dock door. Developed supply relationships with over 25 farms and 20 value-added food businesses. Developed sales partnerships with institutions, grocery retailers, and restaurants. Managed all program budget and finances.
USDA Farmers to Families Program, 2020, Eastern Market Partnership: Co-wrote grant, created worktable, budget, narrative, and program design. Coordinated logistics, led part time staff of 12, enforced food safety requirements, obtained GAP certification, delivered 720,000 pounds of local produce to 12 city-wide nonprofit community partners.
Michigan State University – Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan Farm to Institution Network – 2012-2023 Stakeholder Advisory Committee Member. Provided creative ideation and food system networking along with other institutional food directors, farmers, and distribution partners.
Board President, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFs) – 2010 to present. Provide leadership of the board of directors, committee leaders, and the organization’s co-directors and staff. Co-created five year strategic plan. Oversee organization’s budget and finances. Navigate resources, and provide thought leadership.
USDA Local Food Cooperative Purchasing Agreement – 2021-2023, Eastern Market Partnership: Co-wrote grant, created worktable, budget, narrative, and program design. Led internal and external stakeholder groups. Coordinated logistics, led full time staff of 2, part time staff of 3, enforced food safety requirements, delivered 30,000 produce boxes of local produce to 12 nonprofit community partners in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Mobilized and prioritized global majority farmers, directing over 60% of overall produce spend to their farm businesses.
Value Chain Creation for Michigan Farm Supply – 2024, The Common Market Great Lakes: Establish a robust and sustainable supply chain of Michigan produce growers, analyze gaps in current supply chain and to identify wholesale ready Michigan producers who meet The Common Market’s sourcing standards, with priority given to historically underserved farmers (minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned).
Online Consumer Facing Marketplace for local food – 2020-2023, Eastern Market Partnership. Co-developed consumer online marketplace with curbside pick-up for local produce and local value added product. Coordinated supply logistics, managed inventory, led full time staff of 2, and part time staff of 3. Maintained food safety protocols, streamlined operations, managed program budgets and finances. Topside revenue average over three year period, approximately $195,000.
FOOD ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMMING
Eastern Market Community Kitchen (EMCK) – 2019 -2023, Eastern Market Partnership. Created 3 year food entrepreneurial start-up program. Developed standard operating procedures (SOPs), on-boarding procedures, and kitchen management procedures. Provided resource navigation for additional funding, services and education. Led part-time staff of 2. Ensured food safety regulations and hygiene standards, including compliance with local and state regulations.
Workshop, Getting Started in a Commercial Kitchen – 2019 – 2023, Eastern Market Partnership. Co-created and co-facilitated monthly classes for food business start-ups. Class content covered topics such as food safety certifications, recipe development, business planning, licensing, banking, and insurance requirements.
Resource Navigation – 2019 -2023, Eastern Market Partnership in partnership with New Economy Initiative (NEI). Networked with Business Service Organizations (BSOs) in the city of Detroit to connect entrepreneurs with vital business education, funding opportunities, commercial real estate site planning and development, accounting support, legal support, zoning and business licensing direction.
Business Mentorship and Consulting – 2019 -2024, Brave Ground LLC and Eastern Market Partnership. One-on-one support for food entrepreneurs with product ideation, business plan creation, break-even analysis, social media marketing, recipe development, licensing, and market channel development.
SHARED USE COMMERCIAL KITCHENS
Kitchen Design Advisor – 2018 – 2024, Brave Ground LLC and Eastern Market Partnership. Provided consultation on kitchen and storage layouts.
Feasibility Study Consultant – 2024, Brave Ground LLC. Provide consultation on market analysis, use case study, location analysis, business planning, operational outlook, break-even analysis, facility design and equipment analysis.
Operations Consultant – 2019-2024, Brave Ground LLC and Eastern Market Partnership. Provide consultation on standard operating procedures, kitchen management, Food Corridor, and food safety management.
GROCERY RETAIL DESIGN
Kitchen Design Advisor – 2018 – 2024, Brave Ground LLC. Provided consultation on kitchen and cafe layouts. Created standard operating procedures. Provided support with state licensing and local regulations.
Local Food Value Chain Coordinator – 2019 – 2022, Brave Ground LLC. Provided consultation on local food sourcing, supply partnership and development, and logistics.