May 27, 2009

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) will host a “Taste of Michigan” tent at the Michigan Antique and Collectible Festival, May 30-31, at the Midland County Fairgrounds in Midland. This is the first in a series of several events to be held across the state this summer featuring Michigan products at fairs, festivals and other agricultural tourism locations.

“We are excited to partner with the Michigan Antique and Collectible Festival to feature a variety of Michigan specialty foods,” said MDA Director Don Koivisto. “Bringing Michigan food products to such a successful festival will add to the draw of the festival while giving attendees access to local products, and help support Michigan’s economy and participating family-owned specialty food businesses.”

Featured “Taste of Michigan” specialty food companies sampling and selling their products include:

• Brownwood Farms, Williamsburg (salsas, BBQ sauces, preserves, peanut butter, mustards)
• Char’s Kitchen, South Lyon (homemade jams, jellies, assorted baked goods, candies)
• DeYoung’s Fore Seasons, Hartland (gourmet spice blend)
• Doodle’s Sugar Bush, Blanchard (maple syrup and other maple products, including creams, candy, sugar, seasonings, sauces, cotton candy, popcorn, nuts, pancake flour)
• Green Barn Llama Farm, Dimondale (gourmet dessert sauces)
• House of Pies, Alanson (homemade pies made with Michigan cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, apples, peaches, raspberries and wild blueberries)
• JemFruit, Bad Axe (fruit spread, flavored almonds, cashews and pecans)
• Johnny B’s Cookies, St. Clair Shores (cookies, dessert bars)
• Safie Specialty Foods Co., Chesterfield (hand-packed pickled vegetables)
• Sansonetti Foods, Holly (marinara sauce, assorted pasta sauces--grilled eggplant, grilled portabella, grilled arabiata, salsas, BBQ sauces, flavored mustards balsamic and basil dipping oils, eggplant caponata, antipasto)
• The Blueberry Store, Grand Junction (blueberry preserves, jams and jellies; blueberry juice, blueberry coffee, blueberry mustard)
• Wee Bee Jammin’, Manistee (jams, honey jam, honey)

The 41st Michigan Antique and Collectible Festival will feature of 80 acres of antiques, treasures and collectibles. In addition to the “Taste of Michigan” tent, there will be a classic car show and swap meet, free antique appraisals, a coin and sports memorabilia building, and entertainment throughout the festival, featuring blues, folk/Americana and bluegrass bands.

Festival hours are Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children ages 11 and under free. All events are held rain or shine and available parking at no extra cost.

For more information about the Michigan Antique and Collectible Festival, visit www.miantiquefestival.com. For information about upcoming MDA-hosted events at fairs, festivals and other agricultural tourism locations, contact Jeanne Hausler, agricultural tourism program manager, at 517-373-9790 or hauslerj@michigan.gov.