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Join more than 300 craft beverage industry professionals in Muskegon from March 23 to 25 for Michigan’s most inclusive industry conference - blending wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries, farmers, maltsters, regional and statewide resource partners, and more!
Important Information:
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Registration for this conference is only $50!
- Registered attendees can opt-in to meet directly with retail and restaurant buyers in coordinated on-on-one meetings at the Summit.
- The hotel is on-site with the conference center. Rooms reserved under the conference block are $149/night if you book by March 5.
- Hotel and convention center offer free parking!
- Local craft beverage businesses welcome all guests on Monday, March 23 for early registration. These businesses include Pigeon Hill Brewing Co., Wonderland Distilling, Blue Lake Biergarten, and Unruly Brewing!
- The agenda is now available. View the education and networking opportunities for all three days.
- There will be an exhibit hall featuring Michigan-based suppliers and service providers.
Sign up now and invite your industry colleagues.
View all details about the Summit at the Michigan Craft Beverage Summit website.
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Success Story
Maple Hardwoods Inc. is a second-generation, family-owned timber company located in Hessel, Michigan. Founder Luke Jaroche came to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1993 in search of an opportunity to build a business of his own. After beginning his career with The Chard Sawmill, he purchased the operation in 1998 and established what is now Maple Hardwoods Inc. Today, Luke’s children have joined the business, continuing the company’s legacy into the next generation.
In 2021, Maple Hardwoods received a Food and Agriculture Investment Fund grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The grant supported a sawmill modernization and expansion project that created 10 new jobs, increased productivity by 72 percent, and boosted utilization of locally sourced trees by 20 percent.
With the modernization and addition of advanced optimization and scanning technology, the facility now produces more lumber per log while significantly reducing waste. These improvements have strengthened operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. As a result, Maple Hardwoods has been able to expand into new markets including Quebec, Ontario, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
By working with MDARD, Maple Hardwoods Inc. has updated its facility, broadened its market reach, and continued to grow its business while creating year-round, well-paying jobs in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
For more information on ways MDARD can help your business to grow, visit our Economic Development webpage.
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International Marketing
MDARD’s International Marketing Program is excited to share that we will be hosting a Michigan Pavilion at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) Show for the first time this year in addition to the Sweets and Snacks Expo and the Summer Fancy Food Show!
The IDDBA show will take place in Orlando, Florida from June 7-9, 2026. This is the show to attend if your products fit the dairy, deli and bakery categories. In 2025, the show had over 10,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors. Retailers, wholesalers, restaurateurs and convenience store owners attend the show looking to purchase products in this category.
There are only two booth spaces available in the Michigan Pavilion this year. For this year only, you must be a new exhibitor to the show to exhibit in the Michigan Pavilion. Please note that you will need to purchase an IDDBA membership to exhibit. This show is eligible for the Branded Program through Food Export.
There are four booth spaces available for the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Las Vegas May 19-21, 2026. This show is the premier business-to-business event for the confectionery and snack industries. It features over 1,000 exhibitors and in 2025 had 14,500 attendees. The show is on a three-year rotation for locations and will be in Las Vegas in 2026 before moving back 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 six 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, artesian 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!
Each of these trade shows are eligible for Food Export’s Branded Program. This is a 50% reimbursement program for international marketing activities. Pre-qualification can be completed for free through Food Export’s website.
Secure your booth space today as availability won’t last long!
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MDARD will accept applications for the 2026 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award now through 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Each year, MDARD recognizes a leading food, agriculture or forest product business that has demonstrated success in export growth. Eligibility is open to Michigan producers, manufacturers or shippers that are actively pursuing international markets. More than 50 percent of the company’s exported products must be grown, processed or manufactured in Michigan as part of the requirements. Companies of all sizes are encouraged to apply.
For more information, please visit the MDARD Ag Exporter of the Year webpage or contact International Marketing Program Coordinator Holly Gaffney.
View the full Ag Exporter press release on the MDARD webpage.
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The Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) announced that it has awarded $439,460 of research and education grants to further strengthen Michigan’s world-renowned craft beer, wine, spirits and hard cider industries.
Since 2019, the MCBC has awarded nearly $3 million in research and education grants to help strengthen Michigan’s craft beverage industry.
Home to more than 750 craft establishments, Michigan ranks in the top ten nationally for wineries, distilleries, breweries and cideries. Michigan's craft beverage industry supports more than 25,000 jobs and has an annual economic impact of $7.3 billion.
Visit the Michigan Craft Beverage website to learn more about the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, including grants, grower connections, business help and a map of craft beverage licenses.
View the full MCBC press release on the MDARD webpage.
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MDARD is now accepting applications for its new Regenerative Farmer Network Grant, which will support farmers in implementing practices that improve soil health, protect water quality and promote the long-term sustainability and profitability of Michigan agriculture.
MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture Program is one of the first in the nation to be embedded within a state agriculture agency. The department's Regenerative Farmer Network Grants offer awards of up to $50,000 for the creation of farmer-led networks committed to:
- Promoting the core principles of regenerative agriculture,
- Testing new ideas and innovations related to regenerative agriculture, and
- Sharing the results of their regenerative agriculture practices and mentoring others.
Prospective applicants must complete the grant application available on MDARD’s website and email it to MDARD-RFNG@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, February 27, 2026. Watch MDARD’s Regenerative Farmer Network Grant webinar for more details on how to apply.
Regenerative agriculture is an active approach to land management that promotes long-term farm sustainability and food security by minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing plant diversity and integrating livestock into farming operations to improve nutrient cycling and profitability. Regenerative practices can complement or improve conventional agriculture systems, helping farms become more resilient, productive and profitable over the long term.
For more information about efforts to promote sustainable farming, visit MDARD’s regenerative agriculture web page.
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