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MDARD is accepting applications for Specialty Crop Block Grants now through 5 p.m. ET Thursday, February 5, 2026.
MDARD leverages USDA funds to award Specialty Crop Block Grants to eligible Michigan entities annually through a competitive process. Such entities may apply for maximum awards of $125,000 for research, marketing, training, and education proposals. The program’s funding priorities are:
- Market enhancement to promote specialty crops
- Market expansion, availability and access to specialty crops
- Farm to institution
- Nutritional education
- Research and development relevant to specialty crops
- Plant health and pest management
- Regenerative agriculture
- Training and education addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers
- Enhancing food safety
- Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge, education and consumption of specialty crops
- Environmental sustainability
- Conservation
- Workforce/labor
Those interested in applying for the grant program should visit the program website for additional details. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system. The grants are contingent on USDA’s approval of federal funding.
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The Michigan Craft Beverage Summit convenes more than 200 craft beverage suppliers in one location!
Michigan Crafted products are a way to differentiate and add excitement to restaurant menus and retail shelves. As Michigan’s craft beverage industry grows, so does the reputation of quality Michigan-made beer, wine, cider and spirits. To help meet your needs as a buyer, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is excited to offer buyer-supplier matchmaking meetings at the Michigan Craft Beverage Summit on March 25, 2026 in Muskegon, Michigan.
As a buyer you will have the opportunity to view all suppliers that could meet your needs and to rank suppliers in the order of who you would like to meet during the one-on-one meetings. The rotating meetings will run for 10-20 minutes to accommodate meetings with multiple Michigan companies throughout the event time. The MDARD team will schedule meetings between you and Michigan suppliers based on your rankings of suppliers.
The matchmaking meetings will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 25, 2026, at Delta Hotels Muskegon Convention Center, 939 3rd St. Muskegon, MI 49440.
We invite you to register as a buyer through the Buyer Registration page on the Michigan Craft Beverage Summit Website. Buyers participating in the Matchmaking Event will also receive free registration to the Summit.
Please direct questions to Elissa Mutschler, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MutschlerE@Michigan.gov, 517-275-1309 or email the Michigan Craft Beverage Council.
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International Marketing
When you exhibit in a Michigan Pavilion, MDARD’s International Marketing Program team works with you every step of the way to support your company's goals.
The International Marketing Program is already working on our Michigan Pavilions for 2026 Spring Trade Shows. The team will split up and head to Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show from May 16-19, 2026 and to Las Vegas for the Sweets and Snacks Expo from May 19-21, 2026.
There are currently two booth spaces available in the Michigan Pavilion at the National Restaurant Association Show . This is the ideal show for companies looking to get into or expand their restaurant, retail, and food service customer base. The show features over 2,000 exhibitors, over 900 product categories, and has qualified buyers attending from all 50 states and over 100 countries. Contact International Marketing Program Coordinator Holly Gaffney if you are interested in exhibiting at the National Restaurant Association Show!
There are four booth spaces available for the Sweets and Snacks Expo. This show is the premier business-to-business event for the confectionery and snack industries. It features over 1,000 exhibitors and in 2025 it had 14,500 attendees. The show is on a three-year rotation for locations and will take place in Las Vegas in 2026 before returning to Indianapolis in 2027 and 2028. Contact International Marketing Program Coordinator Elissa Mutschler if you are interested in exhibiting at the 2026 Sweets and Snacks Expo!
There are seven booth spaces available in the Michigan Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show. This show is the specialty food product discovery event showcasing high-quality, artisanal products in more than 40 categories. The show takes place annually in New York City and will run June 28-30, 2026. Contact International Marketing Program Coordinator Holly Gaffney if you are interested in exhibiting at the Summer Fancy Food Show!
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Are you or your suppliers looking for more or better ways to get Michigan-grown foods from the field to the processor or final consumer? In December, MDARD’s Farm to Family Program introduced a new grant opportunity called Last Food Mile to help small and medium food producers across Michigan purchase refrigerated trucks and develop other food transportation and distribution infrastructure.
The Last Food Mile Grant program offers maximum awards of $100,000 for projects focused on increasing:
- The volume/weight of Michigan-grown foods sold in Michigan communities.
- The dollar value of Michigan-grown foods sold and the revenue to Michigan farmers.
- The number of Michigan farmers reached, including those who use regenerative practices.
- Local and regional market access for a broader geographic distribution of Michigan farmers.
- The number or types of consumers who have access to Michigan-grown foods.
Applicants for this grant must be a Michigan-based farm business or a Michigan-based food business or organization that works directly with Michigan-based farmers. For more information, please visit MDARD's grant website or email MDARD-FarmToFamily@michigan.gov.
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In December, the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the Center for Dairy Research, announced approximately $4.6 million in grant funding to dairy businesses throughout the Midwest, including three Michigan companies.
The following three Michigan companies received DBIA awards:
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Annie G’s Dairy (Ann Arbor) - received funding to support the continued production of whole creamline milk and additional sales of cream and drinkable yogurts.
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Semifreddo, LLC (Grand Rapids) - received funding to support the installation of a walk-in freezer, allowing them to scale production, improve operating efficiency and serve more customers.
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Sweet Temptations (Spring Lake) - received funding to upgrade their sales and production and improve their production and cost efficiency.
The funds are awarded as part of DBIA’s Dairy Business Builder grant program. The program aims to help support small- to medium-sized dairy businesses in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy by-products, and creating or enhancing dairy export programs. Reimbursement grants of up to $100,000 each are awarded following a competitive review process.
The next DBIA grant application period will open in February 2026 and applications will be due in April 2026.
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Looking for funding opportunities in 2026? MDARD’s MiAgGrants system is a streamlined system aimed at reducing user barriers and allowing more access to MDARD’s grant funding opportunities.
MiAgGrants has allowed MDARD to send applicants reminders and communicate more efficiently with grantees. Applicants can submit electronic grant applications by first making either a business or citizen account. Once an account is made, users can see any open grant opportunities in their dashboard and the criteria and eligibility requirements for each one.
Sign up on the MiAgGrants system for a citizen account or a business account now!
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