Issue 2, 2007
In this Issue:

2007 Michigan Pavilion at the Food Marketing Institute Show

The 2007 Michigan Pavilion in the U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show in Chicago showcased 8 companies in 11 booths and again featured a higher profile location near the front of the show floor.  The FMI/USFES Show, May 6-8, 2007, included the following Michigan companies:

• Michigan Apple Committee, Dewitt: organization promoting Michigan fresh and processed apples.
• Cherry Central, Traverse City: manufacturer of Indian Summer apple juice, applesauce, and TraverseBay dried fruit products.
• Loretta Baking Mix Products, Monroe: maker of baking mixes.
• Honey Tree, Inc., Onsted: manufacturer of honey and honey products.
• Graceland Fruit, Frankfort: processor of a full line of infused dried and infused frozen fruits and vegetables.
• Michigan Bean Commission, St. Johns: organization promoting Michigan dry edible beans.
•  Fido, Inc., Clinton Township, dog bones and treats.
• Eden Foods, Inc., Clinton, promoting a full line of organic food products.

Food company executives from over 100 countries including major delegations from Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East were expected to attend the FMI Showcase. Each state pavilion spotlighted qualified food manufacturers interested in pursuing international business opportunities.

Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB)/MDA Bus Trip a Success

As in past years, MDA, in partnership with MFB and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), hosted a bus tour for Michigan farmers, marketers, and legislators to Chicago to provide firsthand experience of the importance of exports to Michigan’s agriculture industry and to the state’s economy. This year over 50 people from Michigan took part in the bus trip to visit the Michigan Pavilion in the U.S. Food Export Showcase at the FMI show on May 7, 2007.  Bus participants were greeted and welcomed by Jamie Zmitko-Somers, International Marketing Manager for MDA; Tim Hamilton, Executive Director, Food Export Association of the Midwest; and DeWitt Ashby, Director of Trade Shows for NASDA.

U.S. Food Export Showcase Staying in Chicago for 2008

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) officially announced that it will co-locate the U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) in Chicago in 2008.  Together with the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc.’s (NASFT®) Fancy Food Show® and the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) All Things Organic™,  the co-location will create the largest display of specialty, ethnic, artisanal, natural, organic and American-made, ready-to-export food products in the U.S.  The event, scheduled for April 27-29, 2008 at McCormick Place, is expected to draw large delegations of food buyers from North America and around the world. 

 The U.S. Food Export Showcase is designed to help small and mid-size food manufacturers tap into the growth potential of international markets. NASDA will work closely with its members, four affiliated state regional trade groups (Food Export Association of the Midwest, Food Export USA - Northeast, Southern US Trade Association, and the Western US Agricultural Trade Association) and FAS to offer food industry entrepreneurs an affordable way to reach food buyers from around the world. 

NRA Show and Buyers Mission a Big Success

Michigan Turkey Producers Cooperative staff meeting with two Japanese buyers at the NRA Show.

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show held, May 19-22, 2007, provided a great opportunity for Michigan companies to showcase their products to domestic and international buyers.  Three Michigan companies exhibited in the Michigan Pavilion in the American Food Fair Showcase.  The companies exhibiting included:  Chestnut Growers Cooperative (various Chestnut products); Flatout Flatbread, Saline, MI (flatbread); and Groeb Farms Inc., Onsted, MI (fresh salsa, peanut butter & honey).

Buyers from Trinidad & Tobago met with representatives from Butterball Inc., during the NRA Show.

Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition and Gold Medal Reception

National wine experts will join Michigan’s own highly regarded judges to swirl, sniff and sip their way through nearly 400 entries at the 30th annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition to be held August 7 in East Lansing.

This year’s judges include wine experts from around the country, including Doug Frost, the only person in the U.S. who is both a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier. Other judges include three Master Sommeliers and a Master of Wine, as well as internationally known authors, winemakers and wine educators.

Be among the first to try winning wines from the competition at the Gold Medal Reception August 9, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. This is a great opportunity to taste the breadth of quality that is coming out of Michigan’s vineyards. Many of the winning winemakers and owners will be on hand to discuss their wines and share a glass with attendees.

Best of Class wines will be paired with foods prepared by the Kellogg Center’s expert chefs. Many other Double Gold, Gold and Silver medal wines will also be available for sampling, along with a generous array of culinary treats.

2006-2007 U-Pick Available Online

The 2006 - 2007 version of the Farm Market, U-Pick & Agricultural Tourism Directory is now available. The directory may be viewed online in a searchable database format. Check out the searchable database here.

The Michigan Farm Market and U-Pick Directory is a guide to more than 200 farm markets, U-Pick operations and agricultural tourism opportunities throughout the state. Visiting farm markets and U-Pick farms is a family event that can be enjoyed all year long.

In addition, there is a separate listing for community or municipally sponsored farmers' markets in your area. It's a great way to shop for a variety of products from local farmers in one place and, by buying locally produced food and agriculture products you get the freshest produce possible. 

Select Michigan Promotions Focus on Locally Grown Produce

The Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Select Michigan Program and its industry partners, including Michigan grocers, chefs, radio partners, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, Miedema Produce and NorthBay Produce, and our state’s asparagus growers and packers, have completed the first round of fresh produce promotions for the 2007 season.  The Select Michigan Asparagus campaign ran from mid-May to mid-June, and featured in-store chef demonstrations, live and taped radio advertisements, a press release and on-line recipes and event promotions in Southeast Michigan and West Michigan.

The in-store promotions featured celebrity chefs, asparagus recipe samplings, appearances by Mrs. Asparagus 2007 Heather Green, of Shelby, and Miss Select Michigan Rebecca Hudson, of Bloomfield Hills; and live radio remotes, featuring radio personality Kim Carson, from WLHT in Grand Rapids.

Retail partners included: Spartan Stores; Meijer, Inc,; Kroger Co.; Save-A-Lot; and several independent grocery stores in Southeast Michigan, including Plum Market, Holiday Market, Papa Joe’s, Westborn Market, and Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace.  Celebrity chefs included: Frank Turner, Chef, Matt Prentice Group, Bingham Hills; Nick Seccia, Executive Chef, The Henry Ford, Dearborn; Lorraine Platman, Chef-Proprietor, Sweet Lorraine’s, Southfield, Detroit & Livonia; and Culinary Historian Priscilla Massie, Allegan.

The Select Michigan program has several fresh product promotions scheduled throughout the season, including promotions for blueberries, peaches, and apples.  Buying locally directly supports our farmers and agri-businesses, as well as our state’s economy. In fact, if every Michigan household spent just $10 per week on Michigan-produced food, it would generate nearly $40 million each and every week.

The Select Michigan Program is also promoting locally grown and processed Michigan products at special farmers’ markets this season, including:  July 12 – Downtown Lansing; August 22, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit; August 22 – September 3, Blue Ribbon Farmers’ Market at the Michigan State Fair, Detroit; and September 13, Buy Fresh, Buy Local - Select Michigan Day Farmers’ Market at the State Capitol, Lansing.

Heartland Ingredients Completes Ag Innovation Grant Project

Another Julian-Stille Ag Innovation grantee, Heartland Ingredients, LLC, of Hillman, Michigan, has completed its project.  Heartland produces dry bean flour and other products that are gluten free. Heartland Ingredients was organized in February 2004 as an extension of the Michigan Edible Bean Cooperative (MEBC).  MEBC was started in 1999 by a group of Michigan dry bean producers seeking alternative markets for their dry beans.

Heartland produces flour, baking mixes and now a line of pastas.  Using Ag Innovation grant funds, they purchased equipment that has increased their blending, mixing, and packaging efficiency and capacity.  Heartland also secured additional customers who required custom blending and packaging of baking mixes.

In the fall of 2006, Heartland’s products were accepted into Whole Foods Markets in southern California.  Heartland’s Finest was approved to be placed in the Vitamin Cottage chain of 39 stores in Colorado and New Mexico in February, and the Sprouts chain of 20 stores in Arizona and California.  The Whole Foods business brought acceptance of Heartland’s products into the United Natural Foods distribution network on the West Coast.  Heartland is now negotiating with three other major chains for acceptance into their systems.  Great job, Heartland Ingredients!

The 2007 Federal Farm Bill Recommendations by the Governors' Ethanol Coalition was publicly released on May 1, 2007.  The recommendations have input from Michigan and 30 other states.  The policy recommendations are all national in scope and should be helpful to the industry as well as public officials, as Congress debates the 2007 Farm Bill this summer and fall.  Click here to view the complete report.

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