Placement of Mendoza in Michigan is the result of efforts between the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC) and Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to open the Mexican market for shipments of fresh Michigan apples. The cost of the inspection system is paid for by the Michigan apple industry. Working cooperatively, MAC and MDA identified federal grants that could be utilized for the inspection system, then negotiated in April with the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture to have the inspector placed in Michigan this shipping season.

The message MAC and MDA representatives conveyed to delegation members was that the imposition of these duties will detrimentally affect Michigan apple shipments to Mexico during the first year the industry has had access to that market. In addition, Michigan is being unfairly affected by these duties as it has had no previous access to the Mexican market, and therefore could not have been dumping there.

Congressional delegation members vowed to actively support the U.S. apple industry when they address this issue with Mexico.

The USFES will again be located in the South Hall but will return to the former prime location. Another new change for this year will be one badge for both shows. The visitor badge will now allow show visitors to enter both the USFES show and the Midwest Fancy Food show all three days.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2003 USFES and the Midwest Fancy Food show should contact Jamie Zmitko immediately, at (517) 241-3628, for additional information.

Alan Hrapsky also met with the Michigan Potato Industry Commission to discuss the continuing promotion of Michigan chipping potatoes to Costa Rican potato chip processors. Discussions took place regarding the high tariffs currently imposed by the Costa Rican government. Hrapsky also met with the Michigan Bean Commission Executive Director, Bob Green, to talk about marketing opportunities for dry beans in Costa Rica.

Joe Lothamer from the Cherry Marketing Institute met with Dr. Besa Kotati to look at opportunities for processed tart cherries in France. Dr. Kotati also visited Bob Green, Michigan Bean Commission, to analyze market potential for Michigan dry beans in the French market.

Hrapsky and Kotati were special guests at a MAXA Council meeting held at the Cherry Marketing Institute.

The recent export sale by Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Ciccone Winery, and L. Mawby Vineyards are the direct result of a buying team of importers that traveled to the Midwest in June. In September, MDA staff and a representative of the Midwest wine industry traveled to Hamburg, Germany, to attend the kickoff of sales and marketing efforts for two of the three German importers.

Mexican baking professionals were very excited about the four fruit products and are interested in obtaining the products as soon as they become available in Mexico.

The ABCC coalition also participated in the ExpoPan Bakery Trade show in Mexico City September 20-23, 2002. A chef was hired to prepare breads and tarts using the ABCC products. Chefs, importers, and distributors had the opportunity to taste the fruits and speak with representatives about the uses and applications for the fruit products.

The pavilion also offered ABCC processing firms an opportunity to meet with potential importers and distributors. Companies exhibiting in the ABCC Pavilion were Graceland Fruit Inc., Frankfort, MI; Honee Bear Canning, Lawton, MI; Agrilink, Rochester, NY; and Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Lakeville-Middleborro, MA.

The ABCC pavilion at ExpoPan offered generic marketing material on apples, blueberries, cherries, and cranberries. Commodity organizations represented at ExpoPan discussing their commodities were Cherry Marketing Institute, U.S. High Bush Blueberry Council, and the Cranberry Marketing Institute.

"Helping ensure a strong, viable agriculture economy has long been one of the state’s top priorities," Wyant said. "These selected development projects and grants will help fuel that effort and will be instrumental in developing or expanding value-added agricultural processing and related agricultural production activities in Michigan. They are a testament to Michigan’s tremendous agricultural diversity, innovation and results-driven approaches as well as the success that can be achieved through federal, state and private partnerships."

Wyant explained the grants were awarded under the state’s Julian-Stille Value-Added Agricultural Development Act, created two years ago with a goal of enhancing the overall value of Michigan-grown commodities through food or agricultural processing activities. Initial funding was made possible due to a one-time federal appropriation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the stipulation that the money must be allocated for projects involving Michigan’s specialty crops. (Specialty crops are generally fruits and vegetables, but are specifically defined as any agricultural crop except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, sugar beets, cotton, rice, peanuts and tobacco. Livestock and poultry were also not eligible for grants this funding cycle.)

Under the Act, there were four categories for which competitive grants were eligible: 1) marketing research and technical assistance; 2) detailed business plan development; 3) utilization of innovative technology; and 4) various land, facility, equipment or infrastructure development.

Grant applications were evaluated, scored, and ranked by both MDA and independent, third party review teams according to several criteria established by the Act, including:

Wyant reported that 75 applications were received with requests totaling $4.5 million.

"The response for the competitive grants was overwhelming, highlighting the agriculture industry’s commitment and desire to help develop or strengthen its markets and add value to the commodities Michigan grows," Wyant said. "All of the projects had merit, but with limited resources, only the top proposals could be selected. We encourage those who couldn’t be funded to work with the department’s agriculture development staff and others to identify potential funding resources."

For a list of Julian-Stille Grant recipients, please visit our Web site at: www.michigan.gov/mda or contact the Agriculture Development Division at (517) 241-2178.

Melinda Curtis will serve as the program manager of the Buy Michigan Organic and Home Grown Program. She will work with Michigan organic food marketers and retailers. Curtis’ duties will include locating Michigan’s organic producers and partnering them with appropriate distribution routes in retail food chain stores that are involved in the program. She will also work directly with the food chain stores involved in the program to help them develop and maintain relationships with organic producers, conduct retail training, and ensure the success of any demonstrations and tastings. Curtis will also work with the stores to produce effective organic promotions.

Curtis is the owner of Curtis and Associates, a public relations and marketing firm based in the Metro Detroit area. For the past seven years, she has worked to develop regional marketing and publicity programs for companies such as: Whole Foods Market, Petland, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, and many others. Curtis is also a veteran of broadcasting, as the producer and host of the weekly radio show, "Living Organically", which airs every Wednesday on WPON 1460 in Detroit. Curtis is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and also studied at the University of Michigan and the University of London. She served on MDA’s Organic Advisory Committee from 1998-2000.

Ann Woods, director of the Organic Alliance, will work with Curtis on the Buy Michigan Organic Home Grown Program, while providing overall program coordination. The Organic Alliance develops organic promotions for supermarkets nationwide, and supports increases in organic production in the Upper Midwest.

Woods was born and raised on an organic farm in northeastern Iowa. She received a masters degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. After completing her studies, Woods worked for the Tunisian national government with the national fisheries. In 1990, Woods decided to jump the corporate track and apply her skills to organic food marketing. In 1993, she began working with the project team that developed the plan for what was to become the Organic Alliance. In 1995, she was appointed director of the Organic Alliance with headquarters in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

The event was held from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. with the feature of the day at 1 p.m., when the resident chef put on a cooking demonstration featuring all Michigan ingredients. Over 300 people participated in the food and wine sampling and to learn more about the vast array of high quality Michigan produced or processed food products. If you are interested in hosting a Taste of Michigan event or exhibiting your specialty food products at future events featuring Michigan produced products, contact Brian Preston at (517) 241-2678.

Agriculture Innovation Counselors Network
In August, on the campus of Michigan State University, more than college freshmen were reporting for classes. The Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Robert Craig and Brian Preston attended the kickoff of an exciting new endeavor for Michigan agriculture, the Agriculture Innovation Counselors Network (AIC). The AIC is a segment of the larger Michigan Partnership for Product Agriculture, designed to help entrepreneurs working to adopt a value-added agriculture production and marketing strategy.

The AIC network is an intensive training program that prepares participants to work in cooperation with entrepreneurs through the process of developing a concept into a viable business. Goods and services that arise from product agriculture create customer value by enhancing the bundle of benefits the customer receives, rather than merely decreasing the price that the customer pays.

In addition to MDA staff, local county MSU extension agents, and USDA Rural Development staff also attended the training and are prepared to assist anyone interested. If you have an idea or need assistance, please contact the Agriculture Development Division at (517) 241-2178.

Ag Tourism’s value-added income currently helps maintain a viable Michigan agricultural industry. Traditional and niche market operations are continually impacted and pressured by urban sprawl, land use issues, low commodity prices, continual higher costs of production, and various local regulations. Alternative methods and markets have been sought by Michigan producers, one of which is attracting visitors to farm operations to buy either products or services directly from the producer.

The melding of agriculture and tourism is logical for Michigan producers. Michigan’s unique climate, a population of 10 million people, varied soil types, and diversified products (over 125 commercially produced) all unite to make an enjoyable and tasty experience for visitors. Tourism adds over $9 billion dollars annually to Michigan’s economy.

Federal Funds Awarded to Assist Specialty Food Producers
The USDA Federal-State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP) recently announced its 2002 funding recipients. MDA, in cooperation with the Michigan Food Processors Association, was fortunate to receive $58,920 to create new marketing channels for Michigan’s specialty food producers.

With this funding source, MDA put together a series of promotional activities designed to directly link specialty food producers with retailers based in Michigan’s tourism industry. The first step in this process will be to assemble an advisory committee to tailor the program to industry priorities.

Initial plans involve a series of traveling "trade shows" throughout the high-tourism areas of the state. These events will offer tourism-based retailers an opportunity to see and purchase Michigan’s wide array of specialty food products in their own communities. Additional plans may include "Taste of Michigan" tents or retail areas at major festivals around the state. These activities will involve direct sales from specialty food producers to "tourists" at the festivals.

Funding from the grant will be used to off set the expense involved in conducting the events, making this a low-cost marketing opportunity for participating companies. Specialty food producers interested in participating in either of these activities or wanting more information should contact Brian Preston at (517) 241-2678.

Upon retirement, Vince plans to teach high school students financial principles, continue to develop his real estate business and do extensive traveling with his wife, Deborah.