Issue 3, 2007
In this Issue:

Export Seminar Held in East Lansing

Participants learn about Food Export Services from Joe Yotti.

Dennis Lynch, Food Export Helpline, presented information on a wide range of exporting subjects including determining a firm's level of export readiness, researching and targeting top international markets, export distribution, pricing, quoting, terms of sale, and export documentation and payments.

Joe Yotti, the Branded Program Coordinator for Food Export Midwest, explained the Branded Program and other services and programs available for Midwestern food and agricultural exporters.

Jamie Zmitko-Somers, International Marketing Program Manager for MDA, highlighted upcoming events for Michigan exporters and told companies to contact her for further assistance.   Other MDA staff, including Byron Beerbower and Mike Bryan, attended and explained how to obtain Certificates of Free Sale and Phytosanitary Certificates.

MDA and Food Export Association of the Midwest will hold future seminars.  If you are interested in attending a seminar, please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov  or 517-241-3628.  Additional export education courses can be found online at: www.exportessentials.org.

Health Benefits of Fruits Promoted in South Korea

The Michigan Department of Agriculture, along with the Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, conducted a seminar August 20-23, 2007, in South Korea, highlighting the health benefits of blueberries, cherries, and cranberries. Over 140 Korean importers, distributors, media, etc., attended the seminar to learn about the healing benefits of the three fruits.

Jim Palmer, Shoreline Fruit talks to potential Korean buyers about his cherry products during one-on-one meetings.

The group visited CJ Food Systems, a major food importer in Korea.

Mission attendees had the opportunity to participate in store tours at Emart and COSTCO, two of the major retail outlets in Korea.  U.S. companies were able to see some product currently in the market and how it was utilized by the Korean retailers and bakeries.

Three Michigan companies, including Atwater Foods, Graceland Fruit, and Shoreline Fruit, participated in the Korean Fruit Seminar and Trade Mission. The Michigan companies had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with over 30 interested Korean buyers during the mission.

For more information about other activities like this, visit www.mdainternational.com or contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.

The U.S. Food Export Showcase at the Global Food & Style Expo

The Michigan Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Food Export Association of the Midwest, is proud to offer a pavilion for Michigan companies at the April 27-29, 2008, U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) in Chicago, IL. The U.S. Food Export Showcase is designed to help small and mid-sized food manufacturers tap into the growth potential of international markets.

Companies will receive a comprehensive and cost effective booth package that will simplify the exhibiting process. The booth package will include tables, chairs, trade lead retrieval, basic electricity, and much more.

Companies will also be able to attend the Food Export Marketing Forum, a series of education sessions on 20 international markets and the growing demand for American products. During the Marketing Forum companies can meet with Food Export's in-market representatives from over 20 markets around the world to gain insights into the opportunities for food and agricultural products in these markets.

A Buyers' Mission will be held in conjunction with the show. Companies will have guaranteed one-on-one meetings with pre-screened, qualified importers to obtain sales leads and receive valuable feedback from importers and buyers about your product's potential in their countries.

Details and pricing for booth space will be available in the next couple of weeks. Please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov for more information.

Michigan Pavilion at the National Restaurant Association Show

MDA will offer a Michigan Pavilion in the American Food Fair (AFF) at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago, IL, May 17-20, 2008. Michigan companies will have a prime location within the AFF at the NRA Show. Companies interested in exhibiting can contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov 

Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition Results Announced
Wineries throughout the state receive awards

Judges sniff and taste wine at the 2007 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition.

Judges sniffed, sipped and discussed their way through a record 365 wines, all of which were grown and made in Michigan. At the end of the day, 36 wineries won a total of 227 medals. Six Best of Class winners were selected from among the gold and double gold winners, and came from all of Michigan’s major grape-growing areas.
They are:

Interesting details from the competition:

1. Judges continue to be impressed with the quality of the 2005 red wines.
2. 2006 white wines impressed for their crisp, clean and regionally typical character.
3. Gold Medal winners were nearly equally spread among the wine regions.
4. Two Syrah/Shiraz wines won Gold Medals for the first time.
5. Best of Class winner Cabernet Franc is an important grape variety but is not as well known as its more famous progeny – Cabernet Sauvignon.
6. Best of Class winning Pinot Blanc is also a less well-known member of a family whose other members are Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) and Pinot Noir.

A complete list of medal-winning wines is available online at www.michiganwines.com. Images from the event may be viewed here. The Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition is sponsored by the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, which is administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. For more information about the wines and wineries of Michigan, contact the council online, or by phone at (517) 241-4468.

General Mills’ Yoplait Yogurt Plant in Reed City Plans $32 Million Expansion

General Mills’ Yoplait Yogurt Plant is planning a $32 million expansion of their yogurt plant in Reed City, MI.  They received in June a MEGA tax credit from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for this expansion, which will result in 25 new jobs along with a $5 million Community Development Block Grant to the municipality to expand their wastewater treatment plant to accommodate the growth.  MDA also supported this General Mills expansion and public assistance from the MEDC and Michigan Strategic Fund.  

Once the plant expansion is complete, the Reed City Yoplait plant will employ over 400 employees and will become the largest yogurt production plant in the U.S. The plant will purchase more Michigan food products totaling over $50 million annually.  Michigan Milk Producers Association will be one primary supplier of milk and nonfat dry milk to the Yoplait plant. This is a major food processing plant expansion, which is good for all of Michigan’s food and agriculture industry.

Renewable Fuels Commission Report

On June 21, 2007, the Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission presented Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and members of the Joint House and Senate Agriculture Committee with its initial report on how to accelerate development of Michigan’s biofuels industry.  The commission, which was created through Public Act 272 of 2006 as part of the state’s aggressive efforts to promote renewable energy, made a series of recommendations, including financial incentives, exploration of new funding sources and government streamlining.  See the report here.

There has been significant news media interest in the "Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission Initial Report” and related alternative energy issues.  According to Public Sector Consultants’, PDF documents have been accessed and downloaded more than 30,000 times from the renewable fuels commission Web site since the Commission first met last November.  Of these downloads, 5,000 hits were the final report.

New Michigan Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

In mid-July, Governor Granholm with MASCOMA Corporation, CEO Bruce Jamerson announced that the Massachusetts-based company will build a $100+ million cellulosic ethanol plant in Michigan in its race to be the first in the nation to produce ethanol from wood and cellulosic agricultural products. The plant will turn the state's abundant, non-food plant life into clean-burning ethanol fuel and will produce co-products such as wood pellets.  A northern Michigan location is expected and incentives are being discussed with various local and state officials.  This announcement is the result of 2-3 years of MDA research and development efforts on using Emerald Ash Borer afflicted ash trees or other forestry residues as a feedstock for a cellulosic ethanol commercially viable plant in Michigan.

Ag Innovation (Julian-Stille) Grantee Success – Fremont Cooperative

Fremont Cooperative Produce Company, located in Fremont, conducted a project to “Research the Market Potential and Test Pilot Incremental Michigan Fresh Fruit into the Commercial Pipeline.”  Fremont Cooperative and its project partners identified an opportunity to research the interest in the fresh market for fresh produce and to do a pilot project moving more fresh produce through food service channels with commercial partners.

The study has identified a wide range of opportunities and has brought together the participants in a pilot project that will begin to move a selection of local fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products to markets during the summer of 2007. Capturing the opportunities will require an on-going facilitated process as Fremont Cooperative fosters a new appreciation for the benefits of local, fresh, seasonal produce from Michigan.  Enhancing the branding and awareness of local food is as important to the success of this effort as creating the supply chain linkages. Great job, Fremont Cooperative Produce Company! 

Follow this link for more information on other success stories.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike DiBernardo at 571-373-9144 or at dibernardom@michigan.gov

Fruit and Vegetable Processors’ Guide to Environmental Regulations

The Michigan Fruit and Vegetable Processors’ Guide to Environmental Regulations is a publication of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, developed in partnership with the Michigan Food Processors’ Association and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  Food processing facilities, suppliers, consultants, and regulators will benefit from this guide as the guidebook is a ready-reference tool for anyone striving toward compliance with state and federal regulations that affect food processing.

• The Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Assistance Program Web site.
• The Michigan Fruit and Vegetable Processors’ Guide to Environmental Regulations.
  

International Promotion Calendar

In the past we've offered a listing of upcoming events in a small calendar. In an effort to offer you more comprehensive information we are now providing a link to an upcoming events page, which in turn offers links to individual event information.

• Upcoming Events: Trade Shows, Buyers' Missions and Food Show Plus! Services Information

Contact Information