December 27, 2004 - 

Robert Craig, a resident of Clinton County and Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) employee, has been reappointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets, announced MDA Director Dan Wyant.

Wyant explained that USDA Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman recently made the appointment to the 20-member advisory committee to assist the federal agency via their “expertise in international agriculture, trade and development, especially as these areas relate to emerging market economies.” The committee reviews funding proposals under the Foreign Agricultural Services’ Emerging Markets Program, re-authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill, and advises USDA on the U.S. private sector efforts to enhance food and rural business systems. 

MDA employee and St. John's
resident Robert Craig

“This re-appointment assures that Bob will continue to share his knowledge on agricultural economics, along with international trade and Michigan value-added development,” Wyant said. “He is a strong asset both to USDA and MDA because of his knowledge and hands-on experience. Bob and his staff, including International Marketing Manager Jaime Zmitko-Somers, are continually striving to enhance overseas markets for Michigan commodities.” 

The 2005 push in Michigan to enhance agricultural commodities abroad includes the following:

• Hosting the Michigan Agricultural Export Training Seminar with the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO) in Lansing on Feb. 7, 2005.
• Co-hosting a trade mission to the Czech Republic on March 7-9, 2005.
• Partnering with state and regional commodity groups to promote Michigan apple, blueberries, cherries and cranberries to the Mexican baking industry.
• Hosting a Michigan Pavilion in the U.S. Food Export Showcase as part of the national Food Marketing Institute Show in Chicago, May 1-3, 2005 for Michigan food companies and commodity groups.
• Partnering with state and regional wineries to promote Michigan wines at the London Wine and Spirits Show on May 17, 2005.

An employee of MDA since 1991, Craig serves as director of the Agriculture Development Division, which works to strengthen profitability for family farms and enhance opportunities for the state’s food and agriculture industry. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Cornell University, both in agricultural economics. 

Farming is second nature to Bob, who was raised on his family’s dairy farm in Shiawassee County and as a youth served as the state president of the Michigan Association of FFA. Bob and his wife Monica graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School and now reside in St. Johns. They have two children.

For more information on this advisory committee and the USDA’s Emerging Markets Program, visit www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.html. For more information on MDA and its efforts to develop international and domestic markets, visit www.mdainternational.com.