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Elissa Mutschler
Holly Henrickson
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As you may have noticed, our program has some new faces! Holly Henrickson and Elissa Mutschler joined our team at the beginning of January as International Marketing Program Coordinators. They have been hard at work learning the ropes to best serve you.
In their roles, Holly and Elissa will work to assist Michigan food and agricultural businesses in developing domestic and international market opportunities.
Holly grew up in a small dairy community in Northern Michigan and was able to appreciate first-hand the hard work that goes into producing quality foods. Working nine years in international sales for a Michigan company taught her what incredible growth opportunities there are in export sales, even for very small businesses.
Elissa grew up showing hogs at her county fair and was an active member of the Ionia County Large Meat Animal Sale committee in 4-H. She was active in the Saranac FFA Chapter receiving both her Michigan State FFA and American FFA Degrees. Elissa is a former member of Michigan State University’s National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Chapter where she competed on the national presentation team in 2018 and 2019. Elissa is a graduate from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management.
Holly is coordinating the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago in May, along with assisting at the Food Service Buyers Mission at the show. She is also coordinating the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York in June and ANUGA in Cologne, Germany in October.
Elissa is coordinating the Sweets and Snacks Show in Chicago in May. She is assisting at the Dairy, Deli, and Bakery Buyers Mission at IDDBA in Anaheim in early June. Elissa is leading the Trade Mission to Toronto, Canada for Specialty and Natural Products in early September. She is also coordinating the Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim in October.
There will also be a Buyers Mission at the Sweets and Snacks Expo and a Beer, Wine and Spirits Buyers Mission at the National Restaurant Association show.
If you are interested in any of these events or learning more about your opportunities in the export market please contact either Holly or Elissa at henricksonh@michigan.gov or mutschlere@michigan.gov.
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Michigan Craft Beverage Council
 The Michigan Craft Beverage Council supports a hard-working, collaborative industry with deep agricultural roots. We provide resources and opportunities that connect growers and producers, reinforcing Michigan as a world-class craft beverage destination.
Industry-led and engaged, the Michigan Craft Beverage Council works collectively to guide important research and promote the growth of this connected, vibrant industry.
Questions? Contact: Jenelle Jagmin, Director, Michigan Craft Beverage Council
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
517-930-0696 | JagminJ@Michigan.gov
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Brendan Wilson started as the new CEO of Food Export in January. He has worked at Food Export- Midwest since 2013 and previously served as the International Marketing Program Coordinator since 2020.
To read the full article from Food Export about their new CEO click here.
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Market Spotlight: Canada
 In 2022, Canada ranked as Michigan’s #1 export destination for food, agriculture, and forest products. According to the US Trade Census Bureau, over $1.24 billion worth of Michigan agriculture and food products were exported to Canada in 2022. Some of the top food and ag products being exported include cereals, seed and grain, animal feed, meat, and vegetables.
Canada is not just a large market for Michigan, it’s a major market for the entirety of the United States as well. According to the US Foreign Agricultural Service, in 2021 Canada imported over $18 billion of US consumer oriented goods.
A report from the US Foreign Agricultural Service identified some of the key reasons as to why Canada continues to be a top market for the United States to export to:
- Consistent cooperation between the two nations
- Advanced transportation logistics along with financial markets
- Proximity to one another
- Similar consumer wants and needs
- Relatively affluent consumer base
If you are interested in expanding into the Canadian market, please consider Food Export’s Food Show Plus! At SIAL Canada May 9-11. In addition to that, there is a Focused Trade Mission in Toronto September 6-7 for specialty and natural products. Both events are great opportunities to form new connections and market your products to a foreign market!
Click HERE for more information on Food Show Plus! At SIAL Canada
Click HERE for more information on the Focused Trade Mission for Specialty and Natural Products
How can our team help your business grow? Contact us at MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov.
Happy Exporting!
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 The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is launching its search for the 2023 Michigan 'Ag Exporter of the Year.' Each year, MDARD recognizes a leading food or agriculture exporting business demonstrating success in export growth.
Companies of all sizes are encouraged to apply. Eligibility is limited to Michigan food, agriculture, and forest products producers, manufacturers, or shippers actively pursuing international markets and increasing export sales. Products must be over 50 percent grown, processed, or manufactured in Michigan. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Read the entire press release here.
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 Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) are excited to partner with the MSU Product Center on the 2023 Making It In Michigan event on Thursday, April 20th, hosted at the Lansing Center. During the event, we will be providing buyer-supplier matchmaking and would like to invite your organization to participate. Through matchmaking, we are looking to bring together purchasers including grocers, retailers, distributors, institutional buyers, or others looking to procure Michigan-made food and beverage products, with suppliers from around the state.
Registration for this event closes on April 5 at 11:45 p.m. For additional information on the Matchmaking at Making It In Michigan event, including buyer and supplier forms, please visit https://pmbc.connect.space/2023-making-it-in-michigan-buyer-supplier-matchmaking/details.
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The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) has opened their Dairy Business Builder Grant for 2023. Grants are distributed to dairy based farms and processors in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
In September of 2022, MDARD joined the federal DBIA program. DBIA aims to support small-to medium-sized dairy business in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy by-products, and creating or enhancing dairy export programs.
Learn more about the Dairy Business Builder Grant and watch the recorded webinar. Read the press release from MDARD here.
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Food Export has updated their free, online program, Export Essentials Online. Export Essentials Online is a flexible, comprehensive approach to learning the fundamentals of and logistics of exporting. This is a great program for a beginner or if you are looking for a refresher.
Learn more about Export Essentials Online.
- MDARD"s Value-Added Grant Application is now open!
- Dairy Business Builder Grant Application is now open!
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Making it in Michigan
April 20, 2023 | Lansing, MI
National Restaurant Association Show
May 20-23, 2023 | Chicago, IL *SOLD OUT*
Sweets & Snacks Expo
May 22-25, 2023 | Chicago, IL *SOLD OUT*
Summer Fancy Food Show
June 25-27, 2023 | New York City, New York
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
Trade Mission to Canada for Specialty and Natural Products
September 6-7, 2023 | Toronto, ON, Canada
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
ANUGA Food Show
October 7-11, 2023 | Cologne, Germany
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
Global Produce & Floral Show
October 19-21, 2023 | Anaheim, California
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
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Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture Development Division
MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov
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