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Section 3
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Welcome to the Food and Agriculture Business Development monthly newsletter -– providing Michigan's food, agriculture and forest products businesses and producers with updates, resources, and industry news.
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Section 4
Success Story
Founded in 1998, Doodle’s Sugarbush, LLC produces high-quality, 100 percent pure Michigan maple syrup while preserving the tradition of maple sugaring. As a first-generation, family-owned and operated farm, the Blanchard-based company is Michigan’s largest value-added maple syrup farm. With over 27 years of experience in production and value-added maple products, Doodle’s remains committed to excellence, sustainability and community impact.
At the 2025 Making it in Michigan Conference, Doodle’s and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Economic and Community Development Team began a conversation about the company’s equipment needs and expansion goals for the upcoming tapping season. After reviewing the company’s immediate needs and business plans, MDARD determined that the Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) would be the best available opportunity to help Doodle’s grow. MDARD and MEDC regularly work together to ensure the success of businesses throughout the state, so MDARD connected Doodle’s with MEDC’s grant experts. MDARD’s Economic and Community Development Team continued to follow up with Doodle’s to provide technical assistance.
“MDARD has been a valuable resource, providing both financial and technical support that has helped us invest in infrastructure, improve processing efficiency, and scale our operations strategically,” said Lynette Henson, owner of Doodle’s Sugarbush, LLC. “Their programs have helped reduce barriers to growth and encouraged innovation, which directly supports our long-term goals. Looking ahead, we plan to continue working with MDARD on future expansion projects, sustainability initiatives, and exploring new markets.”
After receiving the MEDC funding, Doodle’s was able to address labor-intensive sap collection and syrup processing by investing in automation and installing a monitoring system that tracks production metrics. Additionally, Doodle’s expanded their reverse osmosis capacity, increasing sap processing efficiency and reducing boiling time. To support year-round production, the company also installed an HVAC system to create a temperature- and moisture-controlled environment that is unavailable in traditional seasonal sugarhouses. These upgrades reduce labor demands, enhance production capacity, and ensure consistency in product quality, positioning the company to meet growing market demands.
Because of continued work with MDARD and MEDC, Doodle’s Sugarbush has evolved into a multifaceted operation. They plan to continue their partnership with both state agencies, using expertise and program support to find further opportunities for growth in their industry.
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Section 5
In late April, MDARD announced more than $3.2 million of grants to 10 Michigan entities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program.
The RFSI grants support fruit and vegetable farmers, maple syrup producers, food hubs, and food processors throughout Michigan:
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Grow Jackson (Jackson) – $63,000 for Grow Jackson Food Hub to expand access to locally produced foods.
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Burnette Foods Inc. (East Jordan) – $475,000 for wastewater improvements that will increase food processing and manufacturing capacity.
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Bur’s Maple Syrup, LLC (Cheboygan) – $269,362.08 for a new maple sugar house that will enable expansion while supporting distributors and the community.
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King Orchard Inc. (Central Lake) – $475,000 for a multi-functional facility that will increase the processing of fresh foods supplied by regional growers.
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Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery (Petoskey) – $305,985.60 for expanding climate-controlled wine and cider storage for “Tip of the Mitt” producers.
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9 Bean Rows (Suttons Bay) – $163,077.98 to launch a regional milling facility to support the grain industry.
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Wunsch Farms, which also does business as Third Coast Fruit Co., (Traverse City) – $475,000 for cold storage, packaging and safety improvements for statewide fresh sweet cherry distribution.
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Great Lakes Organic Processing LLC (Frankenmuth) – $475,000 to expand a wheat production and processing facility.
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Thistle Dew Creamery LLC (Vassar) – $475,000 to build an on-site dairy cheese processing facility.
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Trinity Health Muskegon (Muskegon) – $66,056 for equipment to start an aggregate farm share program in Muskegon County at the farm at Trinity Health Muskegon.
Over the past two years, MDARD and the USDA have awarded more than $6.3 million of RFSI grants to Michigan food and agriculture producers. These grants add to more than $250 million of funding MDARD has delivered since 2019 to strengthen Michigan’s food and agriculture industry, enhance agriculture research and education, protect Michigan’s natural resources and build rural infrastructure.
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Section 6
International Marketing
This May, MDARD and its partners are celebrating 40 years of World Trade Month. Exports strengthen Michigan’s food and agriculture industry and enhance the worldwide impact of fresh and delicious Michigan agricultural products.
As one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation, agricultural exports have a major impact on Michigan’s economy. In 2024, Michigan exported $2.9 billion in food, agriculture and forest products. Some of the top exports include processed food products; dairy products; prepared cereals, flour or starch; and wood products.
MDARD helps Michigan companies boost their agriculture exports in many ways, including:
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Hosting Michigan pavilions at trade shows and assisting companies with opportunities at buyers missions
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Highlighting a company whose export products are over 50 percent grown, processed or manufactures in Michigan and pursuing export markets at the Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year
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Section 7
Looking to export to foreign markets? Join Food Export on their Focused Trade Mission to Canada on September 9 and 10, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. This is a great way to get first-hand knowledge of the market and see where your products could fit on store shelves. The focused trade mission will include pre-event custom product research, a market briefing from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), a retail store tour, a presentation on Canadian packaging and labeling requirements, and pre-scheduled meetings with Canadian buyers.
Top U.S. products in demand for this focused trade mission are:
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Cooking ingredients and meals
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Snacks
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Baked goods
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Processed fruit and vegetables
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Pasta, rice and noodles
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Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages
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Healthy and organic products
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Ethnic food products
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Pet food
Focused Trade Missions qualify for reimbursement for travel for up to two people through the Branded Program.
Please reach out to International Marketing Program Coordinator Elissa Mutschler, with any questions.
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Section 8
MDARD is inviting experts throughout the state to serve as members of the Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) that helps review agriculture economic development grant applications.
Prospective volunteers must complete and submit the application form by Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET for the JEC that will support the following grant programs:
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Specialty Crop Block Grants fund research, marketing and food safety enhancements for the production of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops.
MDARD’s Grant Program selects JEC members based on the following eligibility requirements:
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Knowledge or experience in food or agricultural systems, including but not limited to marketing, processing, distribution, production, economic development, finance and/or local and regional food systems
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Ability to analyze grant applications against specific criteria and justify their evaluation in writing
The grant application review is done remotely and JEC members are not required to travel to a specific location to volunteer.
Visit the MDARD grants webpage for more information about food and agriculture funding opportunities.
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Section 9
MDARD and the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board (MAPFB) announced that they have awarded more than $2 million of Agricultural Preservation Fund grants to permanently protect farmland in seven counties and townships.
Since 2019, MDARD has issued more than $10 million of Agricultural Development grants to qualifying farmland preservation programs throughout Michigan. The grants are part of more than $250 million MDARD delivered over the past seven years to help strengthen Michigan’s food and agriculture industry, protect the environment, promote rural prosperity and create jobs.
According to statute, purchasing agricultural conservation easements permanently preserves agricultural use and prevents the development of non-permitted uses of the land for current and future owners. Local farmland preservation programs are eligible to submit applications for the Agricultural Preservation Fund grant to support that mission.
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Section 10
Industry Opportunity
Only a few seats remain for Michigan's 2026 Food Protection Task Force Annual Meeting! Register today to join Michigan's leading experts for a day focused on food safety, emergency preparedness, networking, and interactive discussion.
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Location: East Lansing, MI
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Event Date: May 20, 2026
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Event Time: 9:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. (Check-in opens at 8:45 a.m.)
- Registration Deadline Extended to May 13, 2026
The meeting is a free event, but registration is required and seating is limited! This year's agenda will include:
- An Update from the Michigan Rapid Response Team
- A “Ready or Not?” Weather Disaster Tabletop Exercise with Emergency Action Plan Resources
- Emergency Response, Infrastructure & Business Continuity Topics
Register now to claim your spot. For more information, contact Cathy Martin.
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