January 16, 2009

LANSING - The Michigan Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism Association (MI-FMAT) announced today that it is seeking farm marketers, farmers’ markets, and other agri-tourism businesses for its 2009 directory. The deadline for application for the directory is Saturday, January 31. The directory will be prepared and distributed by MI-FMAT, with support from Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).

“I encourage family farmers, agri-businesses, and others across the state to take advantage of this low-cost, high-benefit opportunity to promote their businesses," said Koivisto, MDA director. “This directory makes potential visitors aware of the diverse and unique opportunities existing in Michigan to select fresh, safe, and high quality, locally grown food and agricultural products; to enjoy recreational experiences; and to reconnect with their agricultural roots.”

Cost for being listed in the directory is included in the price of membership to MI-FMAT. The annual MI-FMAT membership fee is $100. Applications for membership/directory listings are available at MI-FMAT’s Web site, www.MichiganFarmFun.com. Advertising opportunities also exist for agriculture businesses, commodity organizations, and tourism associations.

The format for the directory will be improved this year, to accommodate an increase in the number of listings. “Last year’s booklet format was a challenge because we had almost 90 pages of listings,” said MI-FMAT Board President Steve Tennes. “This year, we will create five regional publications instead of one statewide directory, which will allow for more listings, greatly reduce our per-directory printing costs and enable us to print significantly more directories.”

In addition to the printed directory, farm listings will be included in a searchable database on MI-FMAT’s consumer Web site at www.MichiganFarmFun.com. Links to the electronic directory will also be accessible from MDA’s agricultural tourism Web page at www.michigan.gov/agtourism, the Michigan Farm Bureau Web site at www.michiganfarmbureau.com, and the Farm Bureau Insurance Web site at www.farmbureauinsurance-mi.com.

The regional directories will be available for distribution on May 1, 2009. The 2009 Michigan Farm Marketing & Agri-Tourism Directory will be available at Travel Michigan Welcome Centers, through local Farm Bureau Insurance agencies in every county, at many farm markets, farmers’ markets, and other locations.

Applications and payment should be sent to MI-FMAT, 235 N. Pine Street, Lansing, MI 48933, by January 31. For more information about MI-FMAT and its mission and services, visit www.MichiganFarmFun.com, or contact MI-FMAT at 517-484-3912 (Toll Free: 866-964-3628). For more information about agricultural tourism and Michigan’s food and agriculture industry, visit www.michigan.gov/agtourism.

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