Explore Our Wild Coffee: Local Coffee with a Purpose in Gwinn, Michigan

There is something pretty special about seeing an idea go from a conversation to something you can actually pick up off a local shelf. That is exactly why Forsyth Forward if so proud of Explore Our Wild Coffee.

What started as an idea to create something connected to outdoor recreation, local business, and community has become a reality. You can find Explore Our Wild Coffee at three local businesses in Gwinn, Michigan: Larry’s Family Foods, Modeltown Express, and Tall Timbers.

And while it is exciting to have our own coffee, the coffee itself is really only part of the story.

A Local Coffee for a Local Community

Explore Our Wild is centered around the Upper Peninsula and why it is such a great place to call home. Forsyth Township is surrounded by forests, trails, lakes, rivers, parks, and countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. We wanted Explore Our Wild to help encourage people to experience those places while also finding new ways to support the community and small businesses around them.

Coffee ended up being a perfect fit. For many people, coffee is part of the beginning of an adventure. It is the cup you grab before heading out on the trail, the you sip while planning a weekend outdoors, or the first thing you reach for before starting a busy day.

So why not make that everyday cup of coffee something that gives back to the community you call home?

Partnering with a Michigan Coffee Roaster

To make Explore Our Wild Coffee happen, we partnered with Dead River Coffee Roasters in Marquette, Michigan.

Working with a local Upper Peninsula business was important to us. Supporting local businesses does not always have to mean keeping everything within one small community. Sometimes it means building connections between communities and creating opportunities for local businesses to work together.

Dead River Coffee Roasters helped us bring two Explore Our Wild roasts to life!

Wilderness Dark
A bold option for those who like a darker, richer cup.

Signature Roast
A smooth, approachable roast that makes an easy everyday coffee.

Having these two options gives people a chance to find the roast that fits their taste.

Coffee That Gives Back

One part of this project that means so much to us at Forsyth Forward is what happens after you buy the coffee. Every dollar from each bag of Explore Our Wild Coffee goes directly into the Forsyth Forward Community Fund.

Forsyth Forward is a local nonprofit organization focused on economic and rural development in Forsyth Township. Our work includes supporting local businesses, community development, recreation, tourism, and projects that contribute to the quality of life in our communities.

That means your morning coffee can become part of an important community project.

A bag of coffee might seem like a small purchase, but small purchases can add up. When people choose to support local businesses, local nonprofits, and locally connected products, those decisions help create a stronger local economy and give organizations like ours additional resources to invest back into the community.

Supporting Local Businesses in Gwinn

You do not have to go far to find it! You can currently find Explore Our Wild Coffee at:

Larry’s Family Foods – Gwinn, Michigan
A locally owned grocery store serving the Gwinn community and surrounding areas.

Modeltown Express – Gwinn, Michigan
A convenient local stop on M-35 where you can grab a bag of coffee while you're already out and about.

Tall Timbers – Gwinn, Michigan
Another local stop where you can pick up Explore Our Wild Coffee right here in the community.

These businesses are an important part of what makes our small community work. Local stores and small businesses like these are more than places to buy something. They are places where people can grab what they need while staying connected to their community.

Why Buying Local Matters

There is a lot of conversation about "shopping local," but sometimes it is easy to forget what that actually looks like.

It can be buying groceries from a local store. It can be grabbing coffee from a local roaster. It can be choosing a locally owned business instead of ordering something online. It can be supporting a local nonprofit through a purchase that you were already going to make.

And sometimes, it can be choosing a bag of quality coffee that helps fund projects in your own community.

Supporting local businesses creates connections between people and organizations. In rural communities like Forsyth Township, those connections are so important.

More Than a Cup of Coffee

Some of the coolest part of seeing Explore Our Wild Coffee on a shelf isn't necessarily the coffee itself.

It is knowing that this little project represents something bigger. It represents local partnerships and supporting small business. It represents finding creative ways to fund community projects. It represents the connection between outdoor recreation and economic development.

So the next time you're in Gwinn, Michigan, keep an eye out for the Explore Our Wild Coffee bags.

Pick up a Wilderness Dark or Signature Roast. Bring it home. Brew a cup. Take it with you before your next adventure!

And remember that every bag helps give back to the community through the Forsyth Forward Community Fund.

Explore local. Support local. Drink local.