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New Market Developer, January-February 2016

Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development sent this bulletin at 01/05/2016 02:30 PM EST

Issue 1: January - February 2016

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Upcoming Seminar:

Interested in increasing your international business in new or existing markets? Then join the International Marketing Program for an export seminar on February 9, 2016, from 9:00 am-1:30 pm at the Henry Center in East Lansing, with registration opening at 8:30 am. The seminar is offered in conjunction with the Mid-Michigan Global Business Club, and will include valuable information for Michigan exporters that are looking to expand their company’s export reach. Seminar topics include:

Opportunities and Challenges for Export Growth
How to Identify Export Opportunities and Enter New Markets
Export Financing
Overview of Export Programs & Services

Featured presenter, Matt Tripodi, is the Government & Trade Relations Manager for Euromonitor International. Mr. Tripodi will discuss “Expanding Your Exports in the 21st Century: Opportunities & Challenges for Growth”. Scott Hibbard, Vice President of Comerica Bank, will provide valuable insight into export financing.

The seminar will include Keynote Lunch Speaker, Star of the West Milling Company, the 2015 Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year.

The registration fee is $35 ($15 for students). This fee includes lunch in addition to snacks and beverages throughout the seminar. For questions, please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at (517) 284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov or Allie Fox at (517) 284-5737 or foxa1@michigan.gov.

Guest Column:

Expanding Your Exports in the 21st Century

By Matt Tripodi,

Euromonitor International

Matt Tripodi is the Government & Trade Relations Manager for Euromonitor International. With over 17 years of experience, Mr. Tripodi presently serves the USDA, all US state departments of agriculture, and more than 130 trade organizations in understanding global export opportunities.

Have you been participating in Michigan’s export success in agriculture? From 2004 to 2014, exports of agricultural products from Michigan to the world more than tripled in value and expanded by more than $1.5 billion. This growth set a new record in agricultural exports for our state, topping $2.1 billion in 2014. During this same ten-year time period, Michigan contributed more than 5.3% of the total agricultural export growth from the Midwest and outstripped the overall percentage growth in agricultural exports of the United States. So what’s expected for the future? Where are the biggest opportunities and threats to export expansion for your goods? And how can your business capture greater success?

Join the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development’s International Marketing Program and the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan on February 9 at the Michigan State University Henry Center, located at 3535 Forest Rd in Lansing, Michigan, where you will learn about the record-setting growth opportunities and key challenges ahead. This seminar will provide access to world-class experts in global agricultural trade and important market intelligence that will give you a road-map to help drive your export success in what has been termed the “New Global Supermarket.” Don’t miss this exciting event – learn more at http://1.usa.gov/1S0wWFc or register online at www.global.broad.msu.edu/gbclub.

Export Opportunities Offered by MDARD in 2016

In 2016, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will offer export opportunities that will help Michigan companies develop and expand their market reach. Michigan producers and processors have the opportunity to exhibit within Michigan pavilions held at various international and domestic trade shows, and attend Buyers Missions as well as Foreign Trade Missions. In 2015, Michigan companies generated hundreds of leads and millions of dollars in expected sales from participation in MDARD export activities. Take advantage of the following effective and affordable opportunities to enter new markets or expand existing markets:

Trade Shows

Michigan Pavilion in the American Food Fair at National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show
May 21-24 | Chicago, IL

Michigan Pavilion in the U.S. Food Show at Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Connect Show
June 20-23 | Chicago, IL

Michigan Pavilion at Americas Food & Beverage Show (Companies with Specialty Crops - special pricing available fruits, vegetables, dry beans, etc.) September 26-27 | Miami, FL

SIAL Paris (Companies with Specialty Crops - special pricing available fruits, vegetables, dry beans, etc.)
October 16-20 | Paris, France

Buyers Missions

Pet Food Buyers Mission at the Global Pet Expo - Food Export
March 15 | Orlando, FL

Food Service Buyers Mission at National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show - Food Export
May 21-23 | Chicago, IL

Caribbean & Central American Buyers Mission for Retail & Food Service Products - Food Export
June 15-16 | Miami, FL

Midwest Buyers Mission – Food Export
August 1 | Lansing, MI

Trade Missions

Focused Trade Mission to Canada for Specialty and Natural Products - Food Export
September 7-8 | Toronto, Canada

If your company is interested in participating in any of these activities or would like to learn more about them, please contact Allie Fox at foxa1@Michigan.gov or (517) 284-5737 or Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or (517) 284-5738.

Food Export Launches Updated Website

Food Export Association of the Midwest & Northeast USA, recently conducted a website-wide renovation. The new website features a more user-friendly home page which allows interested and active exporters alike to easily access information targeted directly to their phase of business activity. By selecting the “Learn to Export”, “Enter New Markets”, or “Increase Market Share” tabs located in the center of Food Export’s home page, exporters are guided to resources designed specifically for their company’s needs. Additional special features of the renovated website include:

Wishlist Feature: The Wishlist feature, indicated by a heart shape, is located on most of the Programs & Services pages. By clicking the heart next to each event’s information, exporters can track activities that are of interest for their company. Events can be easily removed from a wishlist on the “My Portal” page.

Food Export Events Panel & Calendar: Along the right side of the page, a panel of upcoming events, dates and locations can be seen along with a link to the full events calendar. Clicking on that link will soon open an interactive and comprehensive calendar, allowing exporters to easily decide and plan which trade shows or educational opportunities are the best fit for their company.

User Guide PDF: In the upper right hand corner of the page, next to the “Log-In” tab, is the “User Guide PDF” title. Selecting this option opens a PDF page which features guidelines on how to navigate the updated website, in addition to instructions on how to apply for Food Export’s programs and services.

Michigan Pavilion at the 2016 FMI Connect Show

The International Marketing Program will again host a Michigan Pavilion at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Connect Show in Chicago, IL, June 20-23, 2016. The FMI Connect Show is the largest retail show of its kind in North America, drawing more than 13,000 domestic and international industry leaders from over 55 countries.

The cost for a 10x10 booth in the Michigan Pavilion is $2,800 for non-specialty crop companies and $2,500 for specialty crop companies (Specialty Crop Definition-fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture products. Processed products shall constitute greater than 50% of the specialty crop by weight, exclusive of added water.)

Click here to reserve your booth space today.

For more information please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov or visit michigan.gov/agexport.

New Food Export Liaison for MI

Hi Michiganders! I’m Molly Burns, the new Liaison at Food Export of the Midwest that assists Michigan companies with our programs. I work with Jamie and Allie at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to encourage Michigan food and agriculture companies to export and to utilize Food Export programs to help you.

I’ve worked at Food Export of the Midwest for three and half years, assisting companies from other Midwest states. From what I’ve heard about Michigan agriculture, it is very diverse and offers high-quality, desirable products for the international marketplace. I am excited to learn more and assist in this growth. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at mburns@foodexport.org or 312-334-9219.