|
Export Seminars: On February 13, 2013, the Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development's (MDARD) International Marketing Program held an export seminar in conjunction with the Mid-Michigan Global Business Club. Twenty-five companies attended the seminar that focused on export documentation, freight forwarders, and due diligence. Speakers included: Vandana Bahl, President of Vanik International, an international freight forwarding company, who discussed logistics and getting product to market; representatives from MDARD Food and Dairy as well as Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Divisions, who provided information on export certification requirements and services; and a panel discussion on buyer due diligence and background checks featuring the Van Andel Global Trade Center, the Michigan State University International Business Center, and Rehmann Corporate Investigation Services. Brent Bradly, from Graceland Fruit, the 2011 Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year, shared some of his company’s experiences and advice on exporting during an excellent keynote luncheon speech. On August 22, 2013, thirty-five companies and service providers attended the Preparing for Export Success Seminar hosted at the Kellogg Hotel in East Lansing, MI. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about export readiness skills, Food Export resources, logistics, phytosanitary certificates, certificates of free sale, the harmonized system and free trade agreements. The International Marketing Program also launched its official Facebook page at this seminar! Check out photos, updates, and videos from all of this year’s activities at www.facebook.com/MiAgExports.
 |
|
Dennis Lynch from Food Export's Helpline presents on H.S. Codes |
Trade Mission to Brazil: Four Michigan companies traveled to Sao Paulo and Rio, Brazil from March 4-8 to meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials and Brazilian companies to discuss export opportunities in Brazil. BelleHarvest, North Bay Produce, Graceland Fruit Inc., and the Michigan Apple Committee spent their time in country discussing the vast market potential for apples, dried fruit and various other fruits and vegetables grown and produced in Michigan. In addition to these meetings, Michigan companies were able to tour retail establishments to learn about consumer buying habits. Brazil is already a solid export market for Michigan products as 2012 exports totaled $11.5 million, with significant growth potential. Upcoming events such as the World Cup and the Olympics will likely boost sales and increase the demand for high quality Michigan products.
 National Restaurant Association Show: Seven Michigan companies traveled to Chicago, IL, May 18-21 to exhibit their products and interact with international and domestic buyers. Cherry Central, Flatout Flatbread, Full Flavor Foods, Frosty Products, Honee Bear Packing, Michigan Apple Committee, and Zeeland Farm Services all exhibited in the Michigan Pavilion within the American Food Fair Pavilion. This year’s show was very successful as over one thousand exhibitors were able to connect with more than 62,500 show attendees from over 100 different countries. Initial reports from the Michigan pavilion participants indicated over 740 contacts were made, and the seven companies forecast over $3.07 million in export sales and $3.26 million in domestic sales. In addition to attending the NRA Show, exhibitors were also given the opportunity to participate in a Food Export Buyers Mission. During the Buyers Mission, suppliers were able to meet one-on-one with prequalified international buyers interested specifically in U.S. food products. This year there was a wide variety of buyers from Canada, China, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Honduras, and many more looking for an array of products.
 China: In September, the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), Jamie Clover-Adams, and the International Marketing Program traveled with Governor Snyder on a ten-day trade mission to China and Japan. During this time the International Marketing Program stopped at a wide variety of places including; U.S.D.A. Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai and Beijing, the Yangshan Free Trade Zone and port, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, and U.S. Soybean Export Council. Currently, Michigan exports almost one-third of the crops grown here, with the top five agricultural exports being soybeans, corn, wheat, dairy products, and fresh and processed fruit. The top five countries eager for Michigan-grown products are Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and China. To learn more about Michigan’s food and agriculture industry watch our new video HERE.
 Taiwan: On September 16, 2013, the International Marketing Program had the opportunity to host the Taiwanese Agriculture Goodwill Mission who spent their time in Michigan touring local farms, learning about Michigan-based soybean and corn research, and signing a letter of intent to purchase Michigan grown corn and soybeans. The delegation was very interested in learning about growing practices and technologies used in Michigan. State Senator Joe Hune and MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams attended the Michigan-Taiwan Soybean and Corn Signing Ceremony at the Governor’s Residence in Lansing as witnesses to the bilateral trade commitment between the Michigan Corn Marketing Program and the Taiwan Feed Industry Association, as well as the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee and the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association. To foster this developing relationship, the Taiwan Delegation anticipates the purchase of over $3.3 billion of U.S. soybeans and corn products in 2014 and 2015.
 Since 2011, McClure’s Pickles located in Detroit, Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, has used Food Export-Midwest’s Branded Program, Buyers Missions, and Food Export Helpline to navigate the challenges of the exporting process.
McClure’s Pickles used Branded Program funding to assist in offsetting the cost of exhibiting at the Summer and Winter Fancy Food tradeshows. The international draw of buyers at the show provides a great opportunity for the company to promote their products. This has resulted in approximately $40,000 in export sales in the last two years to mainly the UK, Australia, and Canada.
McClure’s Pickles found great success at the 2012 Midwest Buyers Mission, where they met a UK distributor. The outcome was the sale of McClure’s Pickles Bloody Mary Mixer, Relish, and Pickle flavored Potato Chips in Marks & Spencer, a premiere food retailer in the UK that has about 100 points of sale. “The Buyers Missions have been extremely helpful, not only in establishing relationships with foreign buyers, but gaining first-hand knowledge on what buyers are looking for and how international relations are conducted for the food industry,” said Co-owner Bob McClure.
McClure’s Pickles has also taken advantage of Food Export’s educational program: the Food Export Helpline™. McClure says, “The educational resources have been a great tool for us in our initial journey through the world of exporting goods.”
McClure’s Pickles is a processor, manufacturer, and marketer of pickles, potato chips, Bloody Mary mix, brine, and relish for retailers and consumers. This family-owned business uses their great-grandmother Lala’s recipe to produce McClure’s Pickles homemade flavor.
Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast are private, non-profit associations of Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agricultural products. Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.
For more information on Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast’s 50 percent cost-share Branded Program, please visit www.foodexport.org.
|
The 2014 year holds an extensive list of Food Export Association activities, programs, and services to help exporters of Michigan food and agricultural products begin or expand their international sales. They provide educational programs, export promotions, customized export assistance, market entry support, and a cost-share funding program. The 2014 Food Export Activity Calendar includes the dates, locations, and other details about buyers’ missions, seminars, focused trade missions, and more!
Buyers’ Missions: Provide an exclusive opportunity to meet and build relationships with overseas buyers looking to import high-quality Michigan products.
Food Show PLUS!™: Assists U.S. exhibitors at key international tradeshows. This program is designed to offer exhibitor services that focus on maximizing their potential with developing leads and sales from the show.
Focused Trade Mission: Offers an organized trip with services that help navigate a different culture and assist with business meetings. It provides a unique opportunity to travel to a target market not affiliated with a tradeshow.
Seminars/Webinars: Educational seminars on topics ranging from the fundamentals of exporting to strategies on entering new markets.
Branded Program: Provides 50% cost reimbursement for a wide variety of international marketing activities.
MDARD’s International Marketing Program has partnered with the Food Export Association of the Midwest to help Michigan businesses expand their international marketing reach by tapping into federal export assistance.
Download the 2014 Food Export Activity Calendar now to begin planning your activities for next year!
Be sure to save money in your marketing budget by taking advantage of early enrollment in Food Export activities. Early enrollment is a great way to map out a year of exporting opportunities and save money.
The International Marketing Program Manager, Jamie Zmitko-Somers welcomed her second child on November 5th! Her name is Breann Kris. At birth, Breann weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches in length. Mason, age 2, is adjusting well to his new sister, and is expected to be a great big brother. Jamie and her husband are in good health, but could use a few more hours of sleep each night. Jamie was recently on maternity leave, but has now returned.
Natural Products Buyers Mission at the Natural Products Expo West Show
March 6 - 8, 2014
Anaheim, California
CLICK HERE
Food Show PLUS!™ at SIAL Canada
April 2-4, 2014
Montreal, Canada
CLICK HERE
Food Show PLUS!™ at ANTAD
March 11-14, 2014
Guadalajara, Mexico
CLICK HERE
Food Show PLUS! at Int'l Food and Beverage Exhibition (FOODEX)
March 3-7, 2014
Tokyo, Japan
CLICK HERE
The International Marketing Program is consistently contributing to a variety of food, agriculture, and trade related blogs. Check out some of our most recent guest contributions:
GlobalEDGE
Food Export Success Stories
Twitter
Follow the International Marketing Program on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MIAgExport for valuable insider information about upcoming events, services, export trends, links, and news.
Facebook
The International Marketing Program is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiAgExports Visit our page to get updates on upcoming opportunities, view pictures from previous events and connect with others who are interested in the world of exports. We will also use this platform to share program updates.
|
