 From left: Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD Director; Jeff Galbraith,
Continental Dairy Plant Manager; Ron Thompson, Continental Dairy Director of
Operation’s; Governor Rick Snyder; Steve Cooper, Continental Dairy COO/ General
Manager; Bruce Born, Continental Dairy Controller; and Jamie Zmitko Somers,
MDARD International Marketing Manager.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) selected
Continental Dairy Facilities, LLC of Coopersville as the "2014 Michigan
Agriculture Exporter of the Year.” The company was honored on June 26 with a
presentation of the award by Director Jamie Clover Adams to Steven Cooper, COO of
Continental Dairy Facilities. The
company is a top U.S. dairy exporter that found immediate success after opening
in 2012.
Continental Dairy Facilities processes raw milk from Michigan farms
and produces several products, including nonfat dried milk, which is shipped
globally. The company only sold their products domestically and in Mexico in
2012, but they increased exports by a staggering 706% in 2013 and reached new
markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. This rapid growth
positioned them as a leading milk exporter. In 2013, 5% of all U.S. milk powder
products were exported by Continental Dairy Facilities.
“We are honored
to receive this prestigious award after just our second year of
operation. MDARD has been a key partner in not only our business
development, but our achievements as well,” said Cooper. “This award
truly illustrates the dedication of our team of owners, management and employees
working together to produce ‘Gold Star Quality Product’ for the global
marketplace.”
The award review committee consisted of representatives from the Van
Andel Global Trade Center, Comerica Bank, Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan
State University’s International Business Center. To
be eligible, the products must 50 percent grown, processed or
manufactured in Michigan. Entries for the 2015 Exporter of the Year will be accepted starting in January 2015. Visit our website for more information on the Agriculture Exporter of the Year award.
 The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Connect
Show returned to Chicago this year and provided a regional opportunity for
Michigan companies to expand both domestically and internationally. FMI is an
international association for retailers and wholesalers and their 2014 Connect
trade show on June 11-12 featured over 800 exhibitors and over 12,500 participants.
Among the exhibitors was a strong group of
10 Michigan companies. The Michigan Pavilion included: Cherry Central Cooperative, Fido, Michigan Apple
Committee, Shoreline Fruit, Michigan Potato Industry Commission, Graceland
Fruit, Siblini Bakery, Safie Specialty Food, True Blue Management/The
Blueberry Store and Honee Bear Canning. Several of these companies expect to enter into a new
export market and anticipate an increase of $2.1 million in sales due to their
participation in the show.
Michigan Farm Bureau along with the MSU Product Center sponsored a bus trip for 19
Michigan companies and traveled from Lansing
to Chicago on June 11, the first day of the show. The group was greeted by John Belmont from Food Export Midwest and Dewitt Ashby from the National Association of State Departments
of Agriculture (NASDA). Attendees were encouraged to look closely at how each
exhibitor markets their products and what food industry trends dominated the
show. The bus trip was a way for some companies to experience a trade show
first hand before they consider exhibiting in future shows.
The FMI Show is in Chicago again next year
on June 9-11, 2015 and registration for booth space begins later this year. Companies who
are interested in learning more, or would like to register for the 2015 FMI Connect
are encouraged to contact International Marketing Program Manager, Jamie
Zmitko-Somers, at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or at 517-284-5738. Additional
information about trade shows and other international activities is available
at www.michigan.gov/agexport.
 The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL was once again a successful event for all who participated. The NRA Show is the largest restaurant and foodservice show in the Western Hemisphere, bringing over 44,000 attendees from around the world, representing over 100 countries.
Seven Michigan companies participated in the Michigan Pavilion and numerous companies from throughout the Midwest and Northeast took advantage of Food Export’s Foodservice Buyers Mission which took place on the show floor.Michigan companies exhibiting in the Michigan Pavilion as a
part of the American Food Fair have the unique opportunity to market their
products to both domestic and international audiences at the same time. By
exhibiting within the Michigan Pavilion these companies are able to utilize the
established brand of Michigan quality for food and agricultural products.
In
the Michigan Pavilion, Ada Valley Meat, Cherry Central Cooperative, Flatout
Flatbread, Michigan Bean Commission, Michigan Potato Industry, Siblini Bakery
and Zeeland Food Service represented the quality and variety that Michigan food
and agriculture has come to be known for.
While at the show, food service companies also had the
chance to meet with prequalified, international buyers through Food Exports
Midwest Buyers Mission. Thirty five companies took advantage of this
opportunity to receive instant feedback on their products marketability in a
foreign country as well as potential sales.
Registration for 2015 booth space is available
starting in the fall and the Buyers Mission is open for registration in late
2014. Companies who are interested in learning more, or would like to register
for the 2015 NRA Show or Buyers Mission are encouraged to contact International
Marketing Program Manager, Jamie Zmitko-Somers, at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or at (517)
284-5738. Additional information about trade shows and other international
activities is available at www.michigan.gov/agexport.
The
Blueberry Store, located in South Haven, Michigan’s 6th Congressional
District, used Food Export-Midwest’s Branded Program and Online Product
Catalog while participating in Buyers Mission which has ultimately helped them
increase their exports.
The Blueberry Store used the Branded Program to offset the cost of
exhibiting at the Blueberry Expo in Shanghai, China on October 11-13, 2013. Sales
manager, Charlie Lannin, stated, “We were able to go to the Blueberry
Convention in Shanghai with assistance from the Michigan Department of
Agriculture & Rural Development and Food Export Association of the Midwest
USA. Through that show we were able to effectively promote our products in
China and have made a great contact with a
grocery chain that is purchasing our dried blueberries. We have seen a 5%
increase in export sales due to our new contact.” The Branded Program also allowed
The Blueberry Store to exhibit at the America’s Food and Beverage Show in Miami,
Florida in October 2013. The international draw of buyers at the shows has
provided a great opportunity for the company to promote their products.
The Blueberry Store also found great success at the 2010 Midwest
Buyers Mission where they promoted their fresh and frozen Michigan blueberries along with dried blueberries, blueberry syrup and
all natural blueberry juices. This resulted in making several new connections
with suppliers and understanding more about the blueberry market.
The
Blueberry Store has also taken advantage of Food Export’s Online Product
Catalog. They have used this program for the past three years which has been an
effective way to promote their products to international buyers from
around the world at all hours of the day.
The
Blueberry Store is owned by True Blue Farms which is a blueberry farm and
processor. Their extensive processing plant allows the packing and selling of blueberries
to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers all around the world. This family-owned
business which has dated back to as early as the 1900’s where blueberries were
first pioneered in Michigan is still owned and operated by the Hartmann family
today.
For more information
on Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast’s 50
percent cost-share Branded Program, please visit www.foodexport.org.
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Brazil Export Seminar
July 18
Grand Rapids, MI
CLICK HERE
Forest Products Export Webinar
August 21
Roscommon, MI
CLICK HERE
Natural Products Buyers Mission at the Natural Products Expo East Show
Baltimore, MD
September 17
CLICK HERE
Convenience Store Products Buyers Mission at the NACS Show
October 7
Las Vegas, NV
CLICK HERE
Focused Trade Mission to Poland for Retail and Food Service Products
October 15-18
Warsaw, Poland
CLICK HERE
Food Show PLUS! at SIAL Paris
October 19-23
Paris, France
CLICK HERE
Focused Trade Mission to Japan for Specialty and Natural Products.
October 27-28
Tokyo, Japan
CLICK HERE
Focused Trade Mission to Turkey for Retail and Food Service Products
November 19-21
Istanbul, Turkey
CLICK HERE
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
will lead a trade mission to South Korea on August 25-28. Director Jamie Clover
Adams and International Marketing Program Manager Jamie Zmitko-Somers will
introduce Michigan food and agriculture companies to the rapidly expanding
South Korean export market. The United States and South Korea recently
established KORUS, new foreign trade agreement that reduces tariffs and has
led to an increase of trade. Michigan companies will benefit from retail tours,
market briefing and one-on-one meetings with Korean buyers and distributors. Contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov for more information.
Alcohol Beverage companies from Michigan had the chance to
participate in a free alcohol export webinar hosted by the International
Marketing Program on June 25. This webinar was geared towards
Michigan beer, wine, spirit and cider companies who are considering expanding sales
into overseas markets. Stephen Robey from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau presented on the requirements for exporting alcohol from the United
States, while Paul Weiss from Food Export Midwest gave an overview of the
various export resources available to companies through Food Export. Following
the presentations companies had the opportunity to ask questions.
This webinar was a part of an ongoing effort to reach out to
more Michigan food and ag companies who are looking to export their product to
foreign markets. If additional Michigan beer, wine, spirit, cider or other alcoholic
beverage companies are interested in the material covered in the webinar, the
presentation will be made available on the International Marketing Program
website www.michigan.gov/agexport.
For any other questions about alcohol exports or to request a meeting with the
International Marketing Program, please contact Hannah Bollinger at bollingerh@michigan.gov or 517-284-5737.
 The International Marketing Program welcomed a new intern, Kiley Kastl this June. Kiley will work closely with the Food Export Association of the Midwest as well as the International Marketing Program. She will work on Food Export events including buyer’s missions, trade missions, and seminars. Kiley will also work with Michigan food and agricultural companies who are interested in exporting and utilizing Food Export programs to increase international sales.
Kiley is currently a senior at Michigan State University where she is majoring in International Relations. Welcome Kiley!
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