The Michigan Cheese and Dairy Guild is a collection of cheese makers, farmers, retailers, restauranteurs and food enthusiasts. The guild supports, educates and fundraises to promote the prosperity of the Michigan food and tourism industry with a focus on those that participate in the local artisan cheese and dairy economy.  

The guild first came to fruition in May of 2023 after a group of artisan cheese makers and sellers were encouraged by MDARD’s International Marketing Program team members to form a non-profit organization. Doing so created opportunities for them to attend trade shows such as the National Restaurant Association Show and promote Michigan-made cheese. After attending the show, the guild gained more attention and decided to open their membership up to anyone that is interested in being a part of their community.   

“Michigan's artisan cheese and dairy production community is a close-knit group. The Cheese & Dairy Guild has been invaluable in helping us coordinate communications and efforts, allowing businesses to share vital information on facilities, food safety, and operational insights specific to the raw milk processing industry,” said Arend Elston, Owner/Operator of Sanilac Creamery. “We are eager to collaborate and partner with local cheese retailers to further cultivate the artisan dairy culture here in Michigan.”

Today the guild has over 20 business members that work as part of a beneficial collaboration to make the artisan dairy industry stronger throughout Michigan. The guild benefits members through customized knowledge about industry factors such as food safety, business operations, sales, and marketing. Members of the guild can access this knowledge through office hours that are established to regularly discuss topics that are unique to the cheese and dairy industry.  

The Cheese and Dairy Guild welcomes members from around Michigan, even those not involved in the dairy and food industry. If you love Michigan-made artisan cheese, then the guild is happy to have you!  

To view the full success story, visit the MDARD webpage.  

MDARD Director Tim Boring presented the 2025 Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award to Cooperative Elevator Company at a ceremony in the village of Pigeon.  

Founded in 1915, Cooperative Elevator Co. is a full service, farmer-owned cooperative located in Pigeon, Michigan. The company works with more than 1,100 grower-owners and processes navy, small red, black and pinto beans among other products including organic grains such as food grade soybeans and white wheat. Most of their exports are to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, but other markets include Canada, South America and Japan.  

Cooperative Elevator Co. began exporting Michigan-grown products to foreign markets in the 1960s with navy bean exports to Europe. These exports support 22 jobs and generate a significant portion of the company’s sales. In total, Cooperative Elevator Co. employs over 200 people across numerous locations in Michigan’s Thumb, as well as in Washington, North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada through their subsidiaries and joint ventures of CEC Seeds, Alliance Valley Bean and Western Harvest Bean.  

Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. The Great Lakes State is the nation’s top producer of black beans, small red beans and five other agricultural commodities. Food and agriculture businesses contribute nearly $126 billion to Michigan’s economy annually, and in 2024 the state set a new agriculture export sales record of $2.9 billion.  

For more information on past winners and MDARD’s International Marketing Program, visit Michigan.gov/AgExport.  

View the full release on the MDARD website. 

Applications for the 2026 Food Export Branded Program close on October 31, 2025! 

The Branded Program is a cost-reimbursement program for international marketing activities. Before you can apply, you must complete a free pre-qualification form on Food Export’s website that outlines timelines and qualifying activities. All trade shows that have a Michigan Pavilion qualify for the Branded Program.  

Eligibility requirements for the Branded Program are that a company must be headquartered in the U.S., meet Small Business Association guidelines and products must be 50 percent U.S. agricultural content by weight.  

The program year runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. More information about the Branded Program and the pre-qualification process is located on the Branded Program’s webpage. Questions about the Branded Program can be sent to the International Marketing Program at MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov.

Agritourism Month is a great time of year for Michigan agriculture. Visiting your favorite local apple orchard, pumpkin patch, or vineyard and enjoying the hard work and dedication of Michigan farmers is the perfect way to celebrate.  

Agritourism is a way for farmers to mitigate market fluctuations and unpredictable weather that can harm their economic prosperity from year to year. By offering value-added activities and products, farmers can better sustain their family farms.  

Beyond that, agritourism is a great way to see agriculture up close and meet the farmers that feed your family. Michigan's agritourism destinations include:

• U-Pick apple orchards,
• Pumpkin patches,
• Corn mazes,
• Farmers markets,
• On-farm markets,
• Roadside produce stands,
• Wineries, and
• On-farm celebrations and events.

For more information, visit the Michigan Agritourism Association website. And follow MDARD’s social media channels throughout the month of October to experience Michigan agritourism at its best.

MDARD is excited to partner with Michigan State University (MSU) Extension to bring opportunities for buyers and suppliers to meet one-on-one at the Great Lakes Expo! 

Registration is currently open for buyers and closes on October 21, 2025. Supplier registration will open closer to the Great Lakes Expo. Watch your inbox for the opening of supplier registration!   

As a registered buyer you can select products that you want to source during the registration process. Buyers will then select which suppliers are best able to fit their needs for the pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings. MDARD will schedule buyers’ meetings for the event based on buyer selections. Participating in these meetings allows buyers to have pre-arranged meetings scheduled with pre-selected suppliers that can meet their buying needs. 

The one-on-one matchmaking meetings will take place December 10, 2025, at the Great Lakes Expo held at Devos Place in Grand Rapids. The event will run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with 10- to 20-minute rotating meetings. Registration is free and is now open at Meet the Buyers at the 2025 Great Lakes Expo. 

For more information, please contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov.