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Please forward this e-newsletter to other members of your organization who might have interest in the articles. It's easy to subscribe -- follow the link at the bottom of any page at www.michiganwines.com to be sure you don’t miss an issue. Back issues are posted on the website under Industry/Council Business/E-Newsletters. Feedback and suggested content is always welcome. Contact Karel Bush at 517-284-5742 or bushk9@michigan.gov.
 Register online until 5:00 pm today, or register at the door
The Michigan Grape and Wine Conference and Northern Grapes Symposium are at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo February 24-26. Complete conference details are available at www.michiganwines.com/conference.
2016 Northern Grapes Symposium Kicks Off the Conference February 24
Super Hardy Grape Cultivars: An Option for Michigan and the Upper Midwest
Like a conference within a conference, the Northern Grapes Symposium features a series of sessions to share results of USDA-funded research conducted over the past four years through the Northern Grapes Project. These research projects were conducted by more than 30 researchers in 12 states, targeted to improve knowledge in viticulture, enology and marketing of super cold hardy varieties bred specifically for northern climates at plant breeding programs in the Midwest and New York. Examples of the varieties that are gaining increased support from the industry in the Midwest and other colder regions of the U.S. include Marquette, Frontenac, Petite Pearl, La Crescent and many others. The goal of the Northern Grapes Project is to help producers overcome production and marketing challenges of making and selling wine from these varieties and increase the profitability and sustainability of emerging cold climate grape and wine industries. Visit www.northerngrapesproject.org for more information about the Northern Grapes Project.
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Thank you to our generous sponsors!
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 The Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) is a 5013C organization that has been formed with the following mission:
To enhance the sustainability and profitability of the Michigan wine industry by supporting wineries, growers and other businesses and individuals connected to the industry – today and for future generations.
The Collaborative has planned two meetings to coincide with the Michigan Grape and Wine Conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo this week. You do not need to register for the conference to participate in these meetings.
Tuesday, February 23 - 12:00-5:00 pm - working session to continue to explore the current needs of the industry as a whole for research, marketing and public policy support
Pre-registration is required to participate in this working meeting, in order that meeting materials can be distributed to participants prior to the session. To register, contact Tom Smith, smitht48@anr.msu.edu, 517-353-4822.
Thursday February 25 - 5:00-6:00 pm - brief report on activities
The objectives of these meetings at the Kalamazoo Radisson Hotel are to:
• Continue the work of developing bylaws and organizational structure for the Collaborative
• Develop goals for the Collaborative for 2016
• Inform a wide group of wine industry members about this work
• Explore and discuss the various funding mechanisms available to support the MWC
A strong industry-led organization is critical to addressing the goals of the Michigan wine industry and to be able to coordinate the necessary resources to keep Michigan in the top ten wine producing states in the U.S. Emerging wine regions of New York, Virginia, Texas and Washington to name just a few examples, attribute much of their rapid growth to the strength of their regional and state industry associations.
Please plan to join us in February to learn more and find out how you can contribute to the future growth of our industry.
Tom Smith from Michigan State University/ VESTA program and Liesl Clark from 5 Lakes Energy have donated their time to facilitate the February 23 session and provide up to 100 hours of support to the Collaborative in 2016 to help the organization gain momentum.
An Advisory Board with representation from around the state has been formed to guide the development of the Collaborative. Advisory Board Members: Dave Anthony, Northern Sun; Liz Berger, Chateau Chantal; Brian Lesperance, FennValley; Lee Lutes, Black Star Farms; Dave Miller, White Pine Winery; Jon Treloar, J. Trees Winery.
Learn more about the collaborative at www.michiganwinecollaborative.com.
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The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council will meet at 9:00 am, February 26, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo. The meeting is open to the public.
For more information, contact Karel Bush, bushk9@michigan.gov, 517-284-5742.
Pure Michigan Business Connect and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are excited to announce the third annual Pure Michigan Agriculture Summit, Wednesday, March 23rd.
They have received over 200 open procurement needs from 27 participating buyers. Buyers that have indicated a need for wine and other alcoholic beverages include Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers, Busch's Fresh Food Markets, D & B Grocers, and Plumbs Supermarkets.
The deadline to apply is February 28th; however, submissions received after that date will be considered for needs that have not been fulfilled.
Check out the application here. Click the Apply Now button and scroll down.
Proposals due to MDARD by March 31, 2016
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has announced new opportunities for Michigan businesses through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ag Marketing Services. The grant funding is contingent on the availability of funds from USDA and Michigan’s allocation has been established at $1.88 million.
The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan’s specialty crops. Grant proposals must be received by MDARD no later than 3 p.m. on March 31, 2016 by submitting them to MDA-grants@Michigan.gov.
The grants, with a maximum award of $100,000, enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crops, including, but not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, increased knowledge and consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development, good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices.
Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities and for-profit organizations. The organizations must be legal entities recognized by the IRS, and applicants must reside and/or conduct their business or organization in Michigan. Applications should demonstrate how the project will potentially produce measurable impacts for the specialty crop industry as a whole; and not-for-benefit to a specific product, single organization, institution, or individual.
For program information, application form, or submission criteria, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1568_51684---,00.html or contact Amy Bearss at bearssa@michigan.gov or 517-284-5734.
Fenn Valley Vineyards, Inc is hiring a Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist. Duties include working with management in analyzing and implementing marketing strategies relating to direct-to-consumer and wholesale efforts, as well as analyze and evaluate marketing strategies and sales trends. Position is located in Fennville, MI.
Requirements for the position include a bachelor’s degree in business administration (or foreign equivalent) and 36 months previous experience in operations of a commercial agricultural direct-to-consumer and wholesale business. Interested and qualified applicants can forward resumes to Fenn Valley Winery, 6130 122nd Ave, Fennville, MI 49408.
Friday, Feb. 5, 2016
LANSING, Mich. -- Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Matthew Moersch, of Berrien Springs, and the reappointments of Michael Brenton, of Haslett, Steve Massie, of Grand Rapids, and Taylor Simpson, of Lake Leelanau, to the Grape and Wine Industry Council.
The 12-member council is housed in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The council provides research on grapes and wine and offers marketing programs for Michigan’s wine industry.
"I would like to thank these appointees for the service and expertise they bring to this council," Snyder said. "I am confident that each member will be a tremendous asset to Michigan’s growing food and agricultural economy."
Appointment:
Moersch is partner/senior manager of Entente Sprits, LLC, a position he has held since 2002. Moersch is also the co-owner of Grape and Grain Tours which began in 2012. Moersch holds an associate’s degree in international business from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. He represents wine makers and replaces Walter Brys.
Reappointments:
Brenton is the president of Brenton Law Group where he is a worker’s compensation defense attorney. He previously worked for Murphy, Brenton and Spagnuolo, PC. He serves as the president of the Greater Lansing Vintners Club and is the current wine columnist for Lansing City Pulse Magazine. Brenton holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He continues to represent the general public.
Massie is the director of merchandising of direct store delivery for Meijer. He previously served as customer vice president, national accounts and global initiatives for Mondelez International. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Webster University and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. He represents retailers.
Simpson is the sales, distribution, and marketing manager for Good Harbor Vineyards. She previously served in multiple capacities for Southern Wine and Spirits in Chicago. Simpson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. She will continue to represent wine grape growers.
Members will serve three-year terms expiring Feb. 1, 2019. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
We're pleased to announce that Jenelle Jagmin has joined our team as the Promotion Specialist for the Grape and Wine program and the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. Over the next few months, you will begin to get to know her as she takes the lead on all promotion and marketing efforts for the Council. Contact Jenelle at jagminj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5790.
Fruit ripening in Vitis vinifera: early ripening events and the modulation of fruit metabolism under water deficit
Dr Simone Castellarin, Wine Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada, presents this session that includes applied components starting from a plant molecular approach to fruit ripening.
Time: 4:00-5:00 pm
Location: Room A149 Plant and Soil Science Building, Michigan State University
Contact Paolo Sabbatini for more information - sabbatin@msu.edu.
 The 2016 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism is April 17-19 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. Meet with over 1,000 industry stakeholders and hear from an array of visionary speakers representing business, tourism and state government.
This year's conference will include a keynote speech from Mo Rocca, a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and host and creator of the Cooking Channel's My Grandmother's Ravioli. He also hosts the CBS show The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation and is a frequent panelist on NPR's hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!
Visit www.milodging.org/conference for more information and to register online.
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Cold Weather Brings Ice Wine Harvest (9&10 News)
Brewers applaud council revamp (Grand Rapids Business Journal)
Northern Michigan winery tailors tastings to younger drinkers (Crain's Detroit Business)
Good Neighbor winery owners split land, work (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
Possible changes to Michigan Grape and Wine Council (Brownfield Ag News)
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