Successful Midwest Buyers Mission for International Food & Beverage Buyers

Leland Cherry Co. representatives meeting with international buyers from Vietnam

The Agriculture Development Division staff along with MIATCO staff hosted the Midwest Buyers Mission with 14 international buyers from 9 different countries. The buyers traveled to Detroit on July 28, 2005 for one-on-one meetings with Michigan companies. The buyers are interested in a range of products from shelf stable grocery items, beverages, snack items, fruit items, food ingredients and additives, and many additional items. Six Michigan companies had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the 14 buyers in southeast Michigan. The Michigan companies projected export sales from this activity at $600,000. Following the meetings the buyers traveled to Papa Joe’s Market and Kroger Fresh Fare in Birmingham to see Michigan food products and consumer trends here in Michigan. Earlier in the week the buyers were in Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA for one-on-one meetings with other Midwest companies.

Canada Specialty Food Trade Mission

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO) are excited to announce a great opportunity to meet with Canadian buyers in Canada. The Canadian Specialty Foods Trade Mission will take place February 26 - March 1, 2006 in Toronto. Michigan’s largest trading partner is Canada, with over 65% of its agricultural and food exports going to Canada. The trade mission is an excellent opportunity for Michigan companies to learn more about the Canadian market, create industry contacts, and get first-hand knowledge of sales potentials in the market.

Mission Agenda:

• Day 1: Arrival and mission briefing
• Day 2: Market briefing and retail tours
• Day 3: One-on-one appointments, table top showcase and reception
• Day 4: One-on-one appointments and/or travel home.

The deadline to register for this exceptional opportunity is November 14, 2005. Please hurry, as only 12 spots are available. For more information, please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers by phone at 517-241-3628 or by e-mail at zmitkoj@michigan.gov.

2006 FMI Show Michigan Pavilion

The 2006 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 more domestic and international buyers.

Booth spaces are $2,300. If you are interested in exhibiting in the Michigan Pavilion at the 2006 FMI show, contact Jamie Zmitko- Somers at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.

Companies Showcase Michigan Products to Fair Goers

The Select Michigan Country Store provided a great opportunity for two Michigan companies to showcase their products to fair goers. Bur Oaks Farms and Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative had the opportunity to sample and sell their products during the Michigan State Fair held annually in Detroit.

Both companies felt the Select Michigan Country Store allowed them the opportunity to show products that are grown and produced locally here in Michigan. The companies were able to tell their stories and generate interest in their products.

Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition

The Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition was held August 2 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council organized the 28th annual competition. Peninsula Cellars on Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City captured four of the six major trophies. Eighteen Michigan wineries were awarded gold medals, indicating the breadth and depth of the growing industry. Twenty judges from California, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan evaluated over 300 wines during the competition. The 300+ entries was a new record number for the Competition and the judges awarded 11 Double Gold Medals, 29 Gold Medals, 62 Silver Medals and 84 Bronze Medals. The Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition is open only to wines produced from Michigan-grown fruit. A trophy presentation reception, attended by 250 people followed the competition on August 4. Complete details can be found at www.michiganwines.com.

Direct Shipping Issue – Michigan Wines

The Michigan Commission of Agriculture passed a resolution in July supporting wineries' rights to limited direct shipping access to consumers. A copy of the resolution is available online at www.michiganwines.com. For more information on state legislation regarding this issue, contact WineMichigan at www.winemichigan.org.

Michigan Biodiesel Production Plant Feasibility Study Team Making Progress

MDA was awarded in Spring 2005, a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant of $73,000.00 to perform “Technical Assistance to Conduct a Feasibility Study and Rapidly Assess the Development Opportunities for a Soybean-Biodiesel Production Plant in Gratiot County, Michigan.” MDA has reached an agreement with the firms REMCO LLC and DeSmet Ballestra to conduct the feasibility study, and the preliminary business plan and work is well underway. MDA is working with the Capital Area Producers Cooperative (CAP Co-op), Gratiot County/Michigan State University Extension, Gratiot County Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union, Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Michigan Corn Marketing Program and several individuals to explore the possibility of establishing either a soybean crushing, crude soy oil refinery and/or a crude corn oil and soybean oil esterification plant in Gratiot County, Michigan. It is expected that the annual capacity of the contemplated biodiesel production facility would be 5-10 million gallons. It is also possible that if the combined soybean crushing, oil refining and biodiesel plant is not feasible in Gratiot County that other alternate sites will be examined for only a biodiesel production plant in either Gratiot County or other Michigan locations, using refined soybean oil and other feed stocks such as recycled restaurant cooking oils and animal fat.

Ethanol Plant Building Boom in Michigan

The summer of 2005 has seen three groundbreakings for ethanol plants in Michigan. On August 25 Great Lakes Ethanol LLC in Lenawee County broke ground on an initial $85 million investment to create 37 jobs and later will build an $8.5 million CO2 (carbon dioxide) processing plant to create 25 more jobs. Great Lakes Ethanol was on the Michigan Strategic Fund Board agenda on September 15 applying for an Ag Processing Renaissance Zone (APRZ) designation and it was unanimously recommended to the State Administrative Board. Great Lakes Ethanol has committed to using primarily Michigan corn of the needed 18 million bushels to produce over fifty million gallons of ethanol and co-products DDGS and CO2.

On September 15, there were groundbreaking ceremonies for two additional plants in Michigan. The Anderson's in Calhoun County a $70 million investment that will, when fully operational, create 30 full-time jobs. U.S. Bioenergy Superior Corn Products in Barry County a $55 million investment also broke ground.

Ground Breaking at Great Lakes Ethanol on August 25

Once operational, that business will create 33 full-time jobs. Both businesses are committed to using primarily Michigan corn. Each will employ approximately 600 construction workers and when operational will have an annual economic impact of over $110 million on the local economy. These businesses will likely raise area corn prices by 5-15 cents per bushel and help preserve Michigan farmland through a more profitable agricultural economy.

Ethanol production in Michigan is very important as consumption of ethanol is rising. In 2003 Michigan ethanol fuel consumption was approximately 151 million gallons, up 90% from 2000. Ethanol production from Michigan’s single operational plant in Caro is only 40-45 million gallons. President Bush signed the 2005 Federal Energy Policy Act on August 5, 2005, which includes a 7.5 billion gallon renewable fuels standard by 2012 into law. This law mandates the use of ethanol (and biodiesel) into the American fuel supply.

International Promotion Calendar

Contact Information