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The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends and determines policy on food, agricultural, and rural development issues. MDARD oversees several additional boards and commissions.
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For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
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Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
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June 09, 2026
Founded in 2018, Milk & Froth, makes dairy and vegan ice cream from scratch in small batches at their production kitchen in Detroit’s Eastern Market. The company doesn’t use artificial flavors, colors or synthetic additives, focusing instead on using Michigan-grown dairy, fruits and other agricultural goods to handcraft unforgettable flavors. Their mission leaves no room to compromise: make ridiculously good ice cream people feel great about eating and with every scoop and pint sold, to support Michigan farmers.
In 2022, Milk & Froth received a Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The $100,000 in funding helped purchase equipment that expanded Milk & Froth’s production capabilities and supported their growth, doubling their revenue and enabling the company to open a second storefront and create over 20 additional jobs.
“The Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant funding from MDARD has allowed a relatively small Detroit-based ice cream company build the production capabilities needed to begin competing with much bigger, national brands,” said Deion Cao, Co-Founder & CEO of Milk & Froth. “Michigan has all the ingredients to own the ice cream industry: dairy, fruit, sugar. And it hasn’t yet. With MDARD’s ongoing support and the backing of our farmers, we’re going to build an ice cream company that competes with the biggest brands in America and put Michigan’s farmers and agriculture on the national stage.”
Prior to receiving the MDARD grant, Milk & Froth’s ice cream production process was labor intensive, and almost entirely done by hand. The grant helped the company mechanize key parts of the process, reducing manual bottlenecks and increasing their pint production capacity by over 100-fold.
The most interesting thing about Milk & Froth may be what they haven’t released yet. The company is quietly developing a new kind of ice cream, something they’ve dubbed “Healthy Ice Cream.” It tastes exactly like the super-premium brands, so you no longer have to choose between indulgence and health. The team is convinced it’s the future of the category, and with continued support from MDARD and Michigan’s farmers, they intend to prove it.
For more information on MDARD’s grant programs and opportunities, visit the MDARD grants webpage.
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