Meet Double Up Champion: MDARD Director Tim Boring

At Double Up Food Bucks, we’re on a mission to make fruits and veggies an accessible, affordable option for Michigan shoppers who use SNAP while also supporting our local farmers and communities. But this work simply wouldn’t be possible without the farmers markets and neighborhood grocery stores, community partners and shoppers, at the very heart of our program: Our Double Up Champions.

Meet MDARD Director Tim Boring: Championing Michigan Agriculture and Healthy Food Access

Dr. Tim Boring serves as Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), where he leads efforts to invest in rural communities, strengthen Michigan’s food and agriculture businesses, and protect natural resources. A sixth-generation farmer from Stockbridge, Dr. Boring brings deep personal and professional experience to his role, including previous leadership at the USDA Farm Service Agency and as founder of Michigan Agriculture Advancement.

Under his leadership, MDARD supports initiatives that advance a more resilient and equitable food system, including Double Up Food Bucks, the program helping families stretch their food dollars while boosting Michigan’s farmers and local economies. By matching SNAP benefits spent on fresh fruits and vegetables, Double Up reflects the kind of farm-to-fork solutions Dr. Boring champions: ones that ensure healthy food is within reach for all Michiganders while strengthening Michigan agriculture at its roots.