In this Issue:
 Pictured (left to right): Jamie Zmitko-Somers, MDARD International Marketing Manager; Bonnie Forman, Safety Director at Bayside Best Beans; Gary Hahn, Plant Supervisor at Bayside Best Beans; Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD Director; Brad Witek, General Manager at Bayside Best Beans; Carrie Hines, Marketing Assistant at Bayside Best Beans; Laura Brahmer, Office Manager at Bayside Best Beans
On Thursday, June 16, 2016, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director
Jamie Clover Adams presented Bayside Best Beans, of Sebewaing, with the 2016
“Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year” award.
“Bayside
Best Beans epitomizes what every exporter should work toward. The company and
its grower members work tirelessly to increase exports through their ongoing
commitment to produce a high quality product and meet their customers’ needs,”
said Clover Adams. “Companies like Bayside Best Beans are critical to
growing our food and agriculture exports while creating markets for products
grown and produced by Michigan’s growers.”
The
original seven owners of Bayside Best Beans began the business in 1995 with
their first harvest in 1996. Their two state of the art production lines
specialize in producing four types of dry edible beans: black, pinto, navy, and
small red.
“Receiving
this award is a reminder of how much Bayside Best Beans has grown - and
continues to grow. We are proud of all the member owners who had the dream to
make Bayside what it is today and the hard work our employees have put forth to
help us achieve this growth,” said Bayside Best Beans General Manager Brad
Witek. “We are honored and excited to be selected as Michigan Ag Exporter of
the Year.”
Through
strategic global partnerships, Bayside Best Beans has expanded their business
worldwide and become a great example for other Michigan companies. For example,
from 2014 to 2015 the company increased the volume of dry beans exported by 15
percent.
Michigan
is the second in the nation for agricultural diversity and exports one-third of
its agricultural commodities every year. Michigan food and agriculture exports
totaled $3.2 billion in 2014, according to USDA figures. Additionally,
Michigan’s food and agriculture exports support more than 26,000 jobs - both on
and off the farm - in food processing, storage, and transportation.
The
award review committee consisted of representatives from Foster, Swift,
Collins& Smith P.C., Van Andel Global Trade Center, Comerica Bank, Michigan
Farm Bureau and Michigan State University’s International Business
Center. The decision was based upon several factors including marketing
plans, ability to expand into new markets, alliances with other organizations,
and export sales growth over the last three years. To be eligible, the products
must be more than 50 percent grown, processed or manufactured in Michigan.
For
more information on MDARD’s International Marketing Program, contact Jamie
Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov or visit www.michigan.gov/agexport.
Michigan
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams is
leading a trade mission to China November 9-14, 2016, focusing on connecting
Michigan food and agriculture companies with Chinese buyers. The delegation
will be making stops in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The mission will include
one-on-one meetings, retail tours, and briefings with U.S. Department of
Agriculture officials.
There
are a limited number of spaces for companies to accompany Director Clover Adams
on this delegation. The application deadline to participate in the trade
mission is August 12, 2016 and the cost is $1,000. This fee covers pre-arranged
meetings with buyers, company information translated to Chinese, and in country
ground transportation. Companies are responsible for their own flight, hotel
and incidental costs.
“As
the third largest export market for Michigan food and agriculture products,
China’s growing middle class provides a great opportunity for Michigan
companies,” said Clover Adams. “Traveling to China provides companies a
firsthand look at market potential and the ability to meet face to face with
key buyers to cultivate key relationships critical for international business
development. In addition, companies will be able to build off the strong
rapport Governor Snyder has built in China – visiting six times in six years.”
In
2015, U.S. food and agriculture exports totaled more than $20.2 billion
according to the USDA, with a record $71 million coming from Michigan.
U.S. agriculture exports to China have grown more than 200 percent over the
last decade.
Contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers, International
Marketing Program manager at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.
For more information, visit the special web page for this trade mission at www.michigan.gov/ChinaTM.
May 21-24
marked the days of the annual National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in
Chicago at McCormick Place. This year the event was larger and more spectacular
than ever! The International Marketing Program hosted the Michigan Pavilion, which
boosted 10 Michigan food and agriculture companies including:
Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. (ZFS), Live Smart Bar, Michigan Potatoes,
Better Made Snack Foods, Great Lakes Potato Chip, Michigan Bean Commission,
Findlay’s Organics, San Bernardo Ice Cream, Honey Tree, and Safie Specialty
Foods.
Foot traffic
was heavy with many new business opportunities for all of the companies that
attended. During the show over 293 new contacts/leads were made and the
companies in the Michigan Pavilion gained nearly $2.8 million in projected domestic and
international sales!
Just down
the aisle from the Michigan Pavilion was the Food Export Buyers Mission. Seven
international buyers came to the NRA Show to meet one-on-one with companies. This
year’s Michigan participants recorded $75,000 in actual export sales; $380,000
in projected export sales; 16 new foreign buyer contacts; and much more.
The
International Marketing Program is already looking forward to the 2017 NRA
show. The opportunity that this large show presents for Michigan companies is
global! If you are looking for ways to expand your business, this show gives
you the ability to meet with international buyers one-on-one as well as promote
your company to thousands of domestic buyers. For more information contact
Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov or Allie Fox at 517-284-5737 or FoxA1@michigan.gov.
Keep an eye
out for upcoming information regarding the 2017 NRA Show by way of the
International Marketing Program Facebook page and Twitter account.
The Cherry
Marketing Institute, Graceland Fruit and Shoreline Fruit exhibited in the
Michigan Specialty Crops Pavilion as part of the USA Pavilion at the SIAL China
show in Shanghai from May 5-7, 2016. SIAL China is one of the largest trading shows
for the international food & beverage industry in Asia. The 17th
edition of the show presented an excellent opportunity for the exhibitors in
the Michigan Pavilion to meet with world class buyers and distributors from
across Asia and the world. The exhibitors were also able to take a deeper look
into innovations and trends in the food industry through multiple events during
the show.
The three day
show hosted approximately 66,000 visitors and 2,900 exhibitors from 65
countries. Exhibitors in the Michigan Pavilion reported that the overall
effectiveness of the show and the quality of the international buyers was
excellent. The three companies yielded over 100 new buyer contacts and anticipate
growth in both existing and new export markets within the next six to twelve
months as a result of the show.
Companies
who are interested in exhibiting at trade shows like SIAL China are encouraged
to contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michgian.gov or 517-284-5738 or
Allie Fox at foxa1@michigan.gov or 517-284-5737.
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Interested in targeting business growth in the
Caribbean and Latin American markets? The International Marketing Program invites
you to participate in the Michigan Pavilion at the upcoming Americas Food and
Beverage (AFB) Show on September 26-27 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Last year over 11,000 individuals from over 100
countries attended the show. The Michigan companies that participated in the
2015 Michigan Pavilion reported a total of 38 new leads with an approximate
$250,000 increase in export sales anticipated for the following year.
Booth space in the Michigan pavilion is limited, be
sure to save your space as soon as possible! The cost for half of a 10x10 booth is
$1,200 for specialty crop companies ($2,900 for a full 10x10 booth), and $2,900 for non-specialty crop
companies.
Apply for booth space and register by going to http://1.usa.gov/1NVVQQ0. For more information on the Michigan Pavilion please contact Jamie
Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.
Q: What Are The Key Points In Developing An
Effective Export Plan?
A: A viable export plan for food products is based on a
realistic match between the organization's structure and goals to its products
and capabilities and resources, both human and financial. This process is
easier to execute once you have obtained a basic knowledge of exporting
value-added food products, understand the marketing research process, and
analyzed the elements of the marketing mix. Click below to read about the
organization and development of these important roadmaps.
Read
More
(Source: Dennis Lynch of Food Export-Midwest)
Upcoming Events
Natural Products Buyers Mission at 2016 Natural Products Expo East
September 21-22, 2016 | Baltimore, MD
Registration Closes August 8
Focused Trade Mission to Korea for Ingredients and Food Service Products
October 24-26, 2016 | Tokyo, Japan
Registration Closes August 4
Food Show Plus! At SIAL Paris
October 25-30, 2016 | Paris, France
Registration Closes July 22
Focused Trade Mission to Japan for Ingredients and
Food Service Products
October 27-28, 2016 | Tokyo, Japan
Registration Closes August 4
Food Show PLUS! At Gulfood
Manufacturing
November 6-9, 2016 | Dubai, UAE
Registration Closes August 3
The International Marketing Program has partnered with Euromonitor International to develop export opportunity analysis reports for 14 Michigan food and agriculture industries.
Michigan food and agriculture companies can access the reports for FREE at www.miagexport.com.
Follow us on Twitter for valuable insider information
Become a Fan of the International Marketing Program on Facebook
Get in touch and stay informed with program updates on LinkedIn
 Jamie Zmitko-Somers
zmitkoj@michigan.gov
517-284-5738
Allie Fox
foxa1@michigan.gov
517-284-5737
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