Michigan Pavilion at FMI 2006

Food buyers from around the world got a taste of Michigan at the 2006 U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) in Chicago's McCormick Place, May 7-9, 2006. The event brought in an estimated 5,000 international food buyers from 100 countries. Michigan's pavilion, sponsored through the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), spotlighted the state's food manufacturers and aided businesses in reaching international markets.

"Michigan agricultural exports bring home more than $900 million every year," said Mitch Irwin, MDA director. "In taking advantage of every opportunity to promote products domestically and abroad, Michigan is greatly accelerating the expansion of its trade markets."

Michigan's agricultural diversity is second only to California. Every year, the state exports one-third of its 200 commodities, generating nearly $1 billion and employing more than 12,000 citizens.

"I'm pleased at the diverse groups of people coming through," said Mike Marsh, owner of Saline-based Flatout Flatbreads, which distributes bread wrap products to all 50 states. "The U.S. Food Export Showcase is an opportunity to expand our business horizon."

The annual event, sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, facilitates important partnerships for companies interested in exporting. This year, major delegations from Asia, South America, Canada, and the Caribbean attended the show.

Participating Michigan companies and commodity groups included:

• Chef Foods, Inc.
• Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc.
• Cherry Marketing Institute
• Chestnut Growers, Inc.
• Flatout Flatbreads
• Graceland Fruit, Inc.
• Iman Pack
• Loretta Baking Mix Products
• Michigan Apple Committee
• Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council
• Microcide, Inc.

New Location for Michigan Pavilion in 2007

Michigan companies exhibiting in the USFES Show at FMI in 2007 will again find themselves in a new location. In 2007, the State Pavilions will move to the front of the show directly off the main concourse. For additional information about the show or to reserve booth space, contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov

2005 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Awarded to Cherry Central

Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc., of Traverse City, was named by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) the 2005 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year. The award was presented at the U.S. Food Export Showcase - an event hosting an estimated 5,000 international food buyers from 100 countries. Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc. will also receive the state's recommendation for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Edward R. Madigan Export Excellence Award, the nation's highest recognition for success in developing international markets. Several others in the agri-food industry were also recognized for their promotion of Michigan products.

"Every day, Michigan exporters ship our quality agricultural goods all over the world and expand our trade markets," said Mitch Irwin, MDA director. "We are pleased to recognize Cherry Central for its tremendous efforts in 2005 and applaud all exporters, large and small, for the key role they are playing in growing and diversifying Michigan's economy."

The "2005 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year" award decision was based upon products, percentage growth of exports from 2003 to 2004, and export destinations. To be eligible, the products also had to be over 50 percent grown, processed or manufactured in Michigan.

"We are extremely pleased to receive the Michigan Exporter of the Year award," said Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc. President, Richard Bogard. "We appreciate the partnering and relationship we have had, and will continue to have, with the Michigan Department of Agriculture."

Michigan is second in the nation for agricultural diversity and exports one-third of its agricultural commodities every year. Recent studies show that these exports generated $919 million in 2004 and employed more than 12,400 residents.

Special export awards were also presented to the following for their continued work to export fresh Michigan apples to Mexico:

• Michigan Apple Committee, DeWitt
• North Bay Produce, Inc., Traverse City
• Michigan Fresh Marketing, Belding
• BelleHarvest Sales, Inc., Belding
• Riverridge Produce Marketing, Inc., Sparta

Richard Bogard, Cherry Central Cooperative, will appear on the July 1 Farm and Garden Show to talk about the being named the 2005 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year. Visit the Farm and Garden Show Web site at http://www.michiganfarmandgarden.com/ to find local stations and times.

Food Service Buyers Mission at NRA

MIATCO and MDA sponsored nine buyers from China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Mexico during the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, May 20-23, 2006. Actual increase in export sales from the meetings totaled over $400,000 with an additional projected increase in export sales of $360,000. The buyers had the opportunity to meet with U.S. suppliers from the Midwest and Northeast. Four companies from Michigan met one-on-one with the buyers. The companies included: Kitchen Etc., Eden Foods, Coloma Frozen Foods, and Cherry Blossom.

Patrick Krekreghe of Kitchen Etc., shows his product to potential buyers from Mexico.	Joann McCabe of Eden Foods discusses Eden's product lines with Japanese buyer during the meetings at NRA.

Welcome Misty Syts!

Misty Syts is a recent graduate of Western International University in Phoenix, Arizona, where she received her bachelor's degree in International Business. She completed an internship with the San Diego World Trade Center last December and is currently taking classes at Lansing Community College.

Good Luck, Brandon!

Brandon Davis has taken a new position at MIATCO in Chicago, IL, as the Generic Program assistant. Brandon was the International Marketing Program's student intern for the past year and a half. Brandon graduated in May from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Food Industry Management from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Agriculture Development Division staff would like to wish Brandon the best of luck in his new position at MIATCO!

Julian-Stille Value-Added Grant Program is Back!

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a grant opportunity that will promote and enhance Michigan's $60.1-billion agriculture industry. Proposals for this competitive grant program, "Agricultural Innovation Fund" (also known as the "Julian-Stille Value-Added Agricultural Development Fund"), will be accepted through July 13, 2006. MDA recently completed several grant writing workshops across the state to assist potential applicants in developing sound proposals. For more information on this program, visit:

• Michigan Department of Agriculture
• Julian-Stille's Value-Added Program is Back!

Vineyard Frost Damage

Significant frost damage occurred in vineyards in Southwest Michigan in late April, with particularly devastating losses in juice grape varieties (losses expected as high as 90%). Damage to wine grapes was significant in some areas of the Southwest on some varieties, adding further pressure to the already tight supply for Michigan wine grapes. Growers may be eligible for federal disaster financial assistance and those affected should contact the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in their area. For a list of local offices, visit the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition

The 29th Annual Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition will be held August 1 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. The competition is not open to the public, but plan to attend the Gold Medal Reception on August 3, 5-8 pm, at Kellogg Center. The reception will feature the best wines from the competition, appropriate food pairings, and trophy presentations to the wineries winning the top awards. Tickets to the reception are $30 and may be purchased by calling The State Room at the Kellogg Center at (517) 432-5049.

MDA director congratulates Michigan asparagus industry for award-winning documentary and Select Michigan promotions

MDA Director Mitch Irwin saluted Michigan asparagus growers, food packers, farm markets and retail grocers along with the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB) for their innovative marketing programs and in being a "determined, comeback vegetable industry" of Michigan.

"Michigan's asparagus industry members are not only stars in the award-winning 'ASPARAGUS! (A Stalk-umentary)' film -- they've also successfully revitalized their industry by expanding into the fresh vegetable market with consistent, high quality products," said Irwin. "Fresh Michigan asparagus is currently being featured at retail grocery stores in the Grand Rapids and Detroit markets and at on-farm markets and municipal farmers' markets statewide through the MDA Select Michigan Program."

ASPARAGUS! (A Stalk-umentary) , the entertaining documentary film about the "Asparagus Capital of the Nation" in West Michigan's Oceana County had its Michigan premiere at the Waterfront Film Festival, on Saturday, June 10, 9:00 a.m., at the Michigan Film Lodge. The film's Oceana County premiere took place during the Rural Route Film Festival, Sunday, June 11, 7 p.m., at the Hart Middle School Auditorium in Hart.

The film tells the story of Oceana County, Michigan, and how it built its identity and economic survival on asparagus. Now its spear-struck residents and family farms must take on U.S. War on Drugs, Free Trade, and the Fast Food Nation, all to save its beloved "roots." ASPARAGUS! (A Stalk-umentary) journeys to the heart of Asparagus Country to discover why one little vegetable matters so much.

ASPARAGUS! (A Stalk-umentary) was filmed between 2003 and 2005 in Oceana County. The project is a small-budget, independent documentary with funds raised entirely by the directors. The project received its initial funds from a pig roast that local asparagus farmers organized for the film. The project was awarded the W. K. Kellogg Foundation "Good Food Film Award" at the Media That Matters Film Festival, celebrated its World Premiere at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. The project was also awarded a special P.O.V./American Documentary, Inc., Finishing Funds Grant as part of the Museum of Television and Radio's Art of The Documentary Pitch competition in April of 2005. The film was an official work-in-progress selection at the IFP Market New York in September 2004.

A Select Michigan Asparagus marketing campaign kicked off at the start of this year's asparagus season. MDA's Select Michigan Program, with assistance from the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB), and Jody Pollok, host of the Michigan Farm & Garden weekly television show, has produced a 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) on Select Michigan Asparagus that will run on various commercial TV stations throughout Michigan during June. Through the Select Michigan Asparagus campaign and other MAAB promotions, the industry hopes to produce and market five million pounds of fresh Michigan asparagus in 2006, up from one million pounds in 2003.

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