Canadian Specialty Food Buyers Meet with Michigan Companies

Sam Schuh, Honee Bear Canning, discusses opportunities for sales to Western Canada with a Canadian Buyer.

On September 18-20, 2006, two Canadian specialty food buyers traveled to Michigan for one-on-one meetings with Michigan companies. The buyers’ distribution networks cover Western Canada and the Ontario markets.

Five Michigan companies, including: Chef Foods, Cherry Central Cooperative, Honee Bear Canning, Lesley Elizabeth, Inc., and Safie Specialty Foods met with the Canadian buyers. The buyers also had the opportunity to tour specialty food stores in the greater Detroit and Lansing areas. The buyers then traveled to Minneapolis, MN, for additional one-on-one meetings with other Midwest companies.

Export sales from the meetings were estimated at Canada is Michigan’s number one export market for food and agriculture products with almost 69% or $502,497,480 exported in 2005.

Get Space Now for the 2007 FMI Show

The 2007 U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES), held at the Food Marketing Institute’s show, will again have a prime location on the show floor. The USFES show will remain in the front of the show floor offering companies a better opportunity to meet more domestic and international buyers.

The deadline to reserve booth space for the FMI Show is January 5, 2007. If you are interested in exhibiting in the Michigan Pavilion at the 2007 FMI show, contact Jamie Zmitko at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.

New for 2007 – Michigan Pavilion at the NRA Show

The Michigan Department of Agriculture, for the first time ever, will have a Michigan Pavilion at in the American Food Fair held at the 2007 National Restaurant Association (NRA) show. Michigan companies reserving booth space by January 5, 2007 will receive a $400 discount.

If you are interested in exhibiting in the Michigan Pavilion at the 2007 NRA show, contact Jamie Zmitko at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.

Welcome, Amber!

Amber Finkbeiner

Amber will work as a student intern with the International Marketing Program assisting small to medium-sized Michigan companies looking to expand or begin exporting. She will also assist Michigan companies with the various services offered by Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (formerly MIATCO).

State grants $265K to assist Michigan winery and vineyard businesses

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) awarded grants in October to five Michigan businesses to develop products and services for Michigan’s growing wine, cider and spirits industry. Entente Spirits, of Baroda, received $82,000 to develop fruit flavored vodkas from Michigan fruit; Paradigm Viticultural Services, of Lawton, received $99,868 to establish consulting services for vineyard establishment and maintenance; and Terrace Hill Vineyards, in Watervilet, received $30,333 to evaluate the benefits of mechanical pruning techniques to reduce vineyard management costs. Tandem Cider, of Leelanau County, was awarded a grant for $25,000 to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a hard cider production facility and tasting room; and Chateau Operations, of Grand Traverse County, received $29,117 to purchase mechanical pruning equipment. These companies are among the 40 recipients statewide to receive an Agricultural Innovation Grant. There were 31 winery-related proposals submitted, totaling $4.3 million in requests.

Agriculture Development Division Director Robert Craig presents a Julian Stille grant award to Dr. David Miller of Paradigm Viticultural Services.  Representatives Neal Nitz and John Proos add their congratulations in a presentation in SW Michigan in October.

"The rapid growth of Michigan's wine industry is a shining example of how agriculture can strengthen and diversify our economy," said Mitch Irwin, MDA director. "These grants will be instrumental in supporting the expansion of this exciting sector."

Michigan Communities to Host Smithsonian Exhibit on Food Heritage: Sponsorship Opportunities Available to Michigan Food Companies

Starting in May 2007, six Michigan communities will play host to Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways, a year-long series of exhibits, events and public programs focusing on our state’s unique contributions to the national culinary tapestry. Events being planned by the communities include Taste of Michigan events, food tours, cook-offs and recipe contests and more, all tied to the history and culture of food in our nation, state and local communities.

Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways takes its name from its main components, two traveling exhibits that will tour the state. Key Ingredients is a Smithsonian exhibit depicting our national food culture. Michigan Foodways is a Michigan State University Museum exhibit exploring our state’s food story by examining our rich agriculture, our diverse ethnic cuisines, and our unique culinary traditions.

Both exhibits will debut in Chelsea in May 2007. From there, they travel to Calumet, Cheboygan, Whitehall, Frankenmuth, and Dundee. The Michigan Humanities Council, the host for the exhibits, is working with each host community to develop local exhibits showcasing their agricultural and food traditions. They are also planning scores of supporting programs – taste fests, cook offs, farm tours, community gardens, guest speakers, and more – to maximize community participation and education.

After the tour, Key Ingredients will return to the Smithsonian and Michigan Foodways will continue to tour after a brief stint in the Michigan State University Museum.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is supporting Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways by providing in-kind marketing, promotional, and programmatic assistance. This dovetails with MDA’s Select Michigan program, which aims to increase awareness of locally grown Michigan food products.

The MHC and MDA invite you to help sponsor the Michigan Foodways traveling exhibit. This is a wonderful opportunity to help educate the public about Michigan food products and invest in a worthy cause.

As a sponsor, your organization will be entitled to recognition in proportion to your level of support. Sponsorship levels are as follows:

• Gold Sponsor - $2,000
  Large logo on Michigan Foodways exhibit; organization logo/name included in ALL Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways material/media (Web, print, advertisements, etc.).
  
  
• Silver Sponsor - $1,000
  Small logo on Michigan Foodways exhibit; organization’s name listed as sponsor on Michigan Humanities Council Web site and newsletter.
  
  
• Bronze Sponsor - $500
  Organization’s name listed as sponsor on Michigan Humanities Council Web site and newsletter.
  
  
• Other partnership opportunities, including in-kind collaborations, promotional agreements, and community-specific arrangements, are also available.

If you have questions, or would like more details on Key Ingredients and Michigan Foodways, please contact Jan Fedewa, MHC executive director, at (517) 372-7770 or jfedewa@mihumanities.org; or Jeanne Lipe, MDA Agriculture Development Division, at (517) 373-9790 or lipej@michigan.gov.

Agricultural Innovation Grants/Julian-Stille Grants - Update

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently recognized the 40 grant recipients of the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, also known as the Julian Stille Value-added Program, through the presentation of mock "checks" at events across the state. MDA estimates that the 40 grants will generate as many as 267 new jobs and over $43 million in capital investment for Michigan.

"These innovation grants are helping to put innovation into production and grow jobs across the state," said Mitch Irwin, MDA director.

The Agricultural Innovation Grants are part of an aggressive effort to spur growth in several economic sectors and are a key component of the 21st Century Jobs Fund. The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion, ten-year initiative proposed by Governor Granholm, approved by the Michigan Legislature, and administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to accelerate the diversification of Michigan’s economy.

Grants from the Agricultural Innovation Fund, also known as the Julian-Stille Value-added Program, are competitive and designed to establish, retain, expand, attract or develop valued-added agricultural processing and related production operations in Michigan.

MDA received a total of 225 grant proposals with requests totaling more than $36 million. All proposals were evaluated and scored based upon: economic impact on the community, economic impact or enhancement to agricultural products and/or services, amount of project innovation or initiative, clarity of project proposal, and management team experience and expertise. Categories for grant awards included: Technical Assistance, Facility Improvements, Market Research/Development, Business Plan Development, and Facility/Land Purchase or Construction.

A schedule for future grants cycles is not finalized but for more information as it becomes available, please visit MDA’s Web site at: http://www.michigan.gov/mda

Michigan Launches Renewable Fuels Commission: Public/private team to help develop states alternative fuel industry

The Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission convened its first meeting in Lansing on November 30, 2006. Established through Public Act 272 of 2006, the public private commission will recommend strategies that Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the state legislature may implement to promote Michigan's production and distribution of alternative fuel. The first meeting featured Suzanne Hunt, Biofuels Project Manager for Worldwatch Institute, an independent research organization focusing upon critical global issues, as keynote speaker.

"The work of the Renewable Fuels Commission is a critical part of our effort to make Michigan the nation's leader in developing and producing alternative energy," said Granholm. "As more E-85 and flex fuel vehicles are produced, it is essential that we make biodiesel and ethanol products more widely available and encourage their use."

All are encouraged to visit the commission's Web site at www.renewablefuelscommission.org to view a list of commission members and meeting agendas, to access useful resources and to participate in a public opinion survey. The site and electronic survey were created by Public Sector Consultants, Inc., to gather information on behalf of the commission.

"Rolling up our sleeves with our industry leaders is the cohesive approach Michigan needs to pinpoint opportunities and achieve results," said MDA Director Mitch Irwin, who also serves as chair of the Renewable Fuels Commission. "While the alternative fuel sector is complex and constantly changing, pooling the expertise of such a diverse group not only allows us to see around the bend, it enables us to determine what it is we want to see."

The Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Granholm as part of a seven-bill package designed to spur growth of the state's alternative fuel industry. The package also reduced the gas tax by 36 percent on fuel that contains ethanol and by 20 percent on biodiesel blends; provided grants to service station owners who renovate or expand their existing stations to make E-85 and biodiesel available; and allowed for the creation of new agriculture renaissance zones to help spur additional ethanol and biodiesel plants. Granholm has also called for the state to have 1,000 biofuel pumps available by 2008.

2007 Michigan Agri-Energy Conference
March 13-14, 2007
Holiday Inn South, Lansing, MI

This is YOUR chance to join other farmers, service providers, rural and agricultural leaders, researchers, and state policy makers to learn more about the latest trends in renewable energy solutions. National and local experts will reveal ways you can improve your bottom line by capitalizing on the potential of renewable sources like wind and solar, biomass, biofuels and bioproducts. Last year’s conference packed the house with over 280 attendees!

A detailed conference brochure and online registration will be available by early January on the Web at www.michigan.gov/deqworkshops. Click on "Upcoming DEQ Workshops" and scroll down to "2007 Agri-Energy Conference". For more information about the conference, contact Terri Novak, Agricultural Pollution Prevention Specialist, Environmental Science and Services Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, at 517-930-3170 or Email novaktl@michigan.gov.

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