Mdard 12-25-B-1075-1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STATE OF MICHIGAN RICK SNYDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JAMIE CLOVER ADAMS GOVERNOR AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill FDA: 10.170 Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development FINAL REPORT 12-25-B-1075 To: Trista Etzig, PMP Project Manager Agricultural Marketing Service Fruit and Vegetable Programs 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Stop 0235, Rm. 2077-S Washington, DC 20250 (p) 202-690-4942 (f) 202-720-0016 PROJECT COORDINATOR Nancy Nyquist Office of Agriculture Development PO Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909 (p) 517-284-5735 (f) 517-335-0628 E-mail [email protected] CONSTITUTION HALL P.O. BOX 30017 LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 www.michigan.gov/mda (517) 373-1104 (800) 292-3939 PG. MDARD Projects: 1 Michigan Pavilions for Specialty Crops at Domestic and International Trade Shows and Trade Mission for Specialty Crops 14 Michigan Pavilions at Michigan Trade Shows 23 Culinary Tourism 32 MIFMA - Researching the Barriers that Prevent Specialty Crop Producers from Accepting Food Assistance Benefits in order to Increase Future Sales Potential 52 Export Seminar - How to Use Free Trade Agreements to Bring the Central American Market Closer to You 55 Updating Michigan’s Specialty Crop Marketing: Promotional Brochure and Banners 57 An Update to Growing Michigan’s Future: A Guide to Marketing Your Michigan Food and Agriculture Products 61 Training in Sparkling Wine Production 63 Developing New Markets for Wine made from Michigan Grapes and Other Fruit SUB-GRANTEE REPORTS 69 Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. – Wastewater Freeze Crystallization Feasibility Study 88 The Starting Block – Entrepreneurial Education up the Specialty Food Value-Chain Beyond the Farm-Gate 94 Michigan State University – Innovative Fruit Plantings: Keeping Michigan Fruit Producers Competitive by Establishing Research Plots Designed for 21 st Century Production Needs 99 The Smeltzer Companies – A Study to Determine the Feasibility of Passive Soil Aeration for the Treatment of Wastewater 112 Michigan Potato Industry Commission – Modern Soil Fumigation Research and Education for Michigan Potato Production 119 Michigan Processing Apple Growers Division of MACMA – USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training for Asparagus, Cherry, Peach, and Apple Growers 121 Michigan Blueberry Growers Marketing - Spotlight on Blueberries – Training in Best Practices in Labor Management and Social Compliance for Growers 124 Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) – Food Safety Education for Michigan’s Specialty Crop Producers 131 National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc. – Implementation of the Michigan Grape Grower Sustainability Assessment Workbook to Enhance the Competitiveness of the Michigan Grape Industries 133 Michigan Asparagus Industry Development Program – Enhancing the Competitiveness of Michigan’s Processed Asparagus Industries through Increased Promotion 136 Michigan Apple Committee – Building Markets Close to Home: Michigan Apples in Chicago 140 Michigan State University – Optimizing Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation and Living Mulches for Enhanced Profitability in Michigan Asparagus 148 Michigan Festivals and Events Association Foundation – Michigan Wine Trails Billboard Promotion 152 Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association – Addressing Foremost Weed Control Issues for the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Industries 173 Michigan Restaurant Association - Growth and Sustainability for Michigan Specialty Crop Hops 175 Michigan State University – Development of Poplar Plantations for Food Processing Wastewaters 183 Michigan Floriculture Growers Council – Managing Energy Resources and Costs to Enable the Michigan Floriculture Industry to Remain Competitive 186 Michigan Bean Commission – Assessment of Narrow Row Technology for the Michigan Dry Bean Industry 191 Michigan State University – Early Detection-Rapid Response Program for Spotted Wing Drosophila, a Potential New Pest of Michigan Specialty Crops 196 Fair Food Network – Expanding Local Market Opportunities for Southeast Michigan Specialty Crop Producers 221 Cherry Marketing Institute – Red Recovery: Cherry Conversations powered by Digital Storyteller PROJECT TITLE MDARD PROJECT 1 – Michigan Pavilions for Specialty Crops at Domestic and International Trade Shows and Trade Mission for Specialty Crops - FINAL PROJECT SUMMARY The project addressed the need of the specialty crop industry to expand and grow their export sales to keep stable prices and markets for growers. The project built on previous funded projects by exhibiting at new trade shows, conducting a trade mission to a new potential market, and showcasing new products that were not previously available. The timing for these activities was important as many free trade agreements will be implemented in the next 12 months opening up new opportunities in Columbia and Korea. The Cherry Marketing Institute worked jointly with the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) International Marketing Program, to secure booth space at major domestic and international trade shows for Michigan specialty crop commodity groups and companies to exhibit at during 2011. The project assisted specialty crop commodity groups in promoting their products both domestically and internationally. The specialty crop groups attended the shows to showcase Michigan specialty crops and focus on increasing sales of the products. Exhibiting at these shows helped to open up new opportunities for Michigan specialty crops, which is extremely beneficial especially in years when large crops are expected. PROJECT APPROACH The Cherry Marketing Institute worked jointly with MDARD to offer a number of domestic and international marketing opportunities to Michigan specialty crop groups. The groups participating in the various activities included commodity groups, Michigan farmers, growers and producers as well as companies and cooperatives. Booth space was purchased at a number of domestic and international shows for the specialty crop companies to exhibit at and to showcase their products. This approach was a great way for the groups to see existing customers as well as find new buyers and markets. An e-mail was sent to all Michigan commodity groups representing specialty crops. The e-mail was used to generate interest and participants for all of the events that were selected by the committee of commodity groups to participate in during the 2011 calendar year. The commodity groups also helped to promote to shows and activities by sending information to their growers and processors. Dear Specialty Crop Commodity Group, I am pleased to announce that the International Marketing Program is working with the Michigan Cherry Committee to utilize funding from the USDA’s Farm Bill Specialty Crop Block for booth space at some of the largest international and domestic trade shows in 2011. The goal of the Specialty Crop Block Grant is to promote Michigan specialty crops in the international arena. The trade shows we selected are among the most prominent in the world, which will bring high quality Michigan specialty crops to the forefront of the international buyers. Booth space at large international trade shows can be quite costly. Creating Michigan Pavilions will help defray some costs and bring national and world attention to our Michigan specialty crops. MDARD will manage and administer the booths at these shows. If you are interested in exhibiting at one of the following shows, please complete the attached document indicating the shows you are interested in exhibiting at during 2011 and return by January 26. Please contact me at (517) 241-3628 or [email protected] for more information. 1 2011 Michigan Pavilions for Specialty Crops: • Foodex Japan: Tokyo, Japan; March 1-4 • American Food Fair at National Restaurant Association Show: Chicago, IL; May 21-24 • Anuga: Cologne, Germany; October 8-12 • America’s Food and Beverage Show: Miami, FL; November 14-15 • Trade Mission for Specialty Crops to the Caribbean: Date TBD Activities Completed • Foodex Trade Show, Tokyo, Japan – March 1-4, 2011 The Cherry Marketing Institute worked jointly with the MDARD to offer the Michigan Specialty Crop Booth within the Official USA Pavilion at the Foodex Trade Show to Michigan specialty crop groups, including Michigan famers and companies. Booth space was purchased by the Cherry Marketing Institute to exhibit from and to promote their products. Other companies from Michigan with products containing specialty crops also participated in the Michigan Pavilion for a nominal cost that helped to pay for the booth space and signage. These specialty crop groups included: Honee Bear Canning and Triple D Orchards. This approach was a great way for the groups to find new international buyers and markets. This show provides a good opportunity to find potential buyers from a number of Asian countries. • National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, Chicago, IL – May 21-24, 2011 The Cherry Marketing Institute worked with the MDARD International Marketing Program to secure booth space at the National Restaurant Association Show/American Food Fair in Chicago, Illinois, May 21-24, 2011 for Michigan specialty crop commodity groups and companies to exhibit their products. The project assisted specialty crop groups promote their products domestically and internationally. The specialty crop groups attended the show to showcase Michigan specialty crops and focus on increasing sales of their products. Specialty crop participants included: Michigan Apple Committee and Chestnut Growers,