In the News
Attention: MI Food & Agriculture Companies Experiencing International Growth! Apply for Exporter of the Year Award
February 19, 2016
Applications due by close of business Friday, March 4, 2016
For immediate release: January 13, 2016
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724
LANSING– Are you a Michigan food and agriculture company with growth in the global marketplace? If you are, you could be the state’s next “Ag Exporter of the Year.”
Each year, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recognizes a leading food and agriculture exporter by presenting a “Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year” award to a deserving state company. The award recognizes outstanding companies for their efforts to increase exports of Michigan food and agriculture products. This honor can bring further success by signaling to international buyers that the company is a qualified and reliable exporter. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, March 4, 2016.
Companies of all sizes are encouraged to apply. Eligibility is limited to Michigan food and agriculture producers, manufacturers or shippers of good reputation and good standing in the business community, who are aggressively pursuing international markets and increasing export sales. Products must be over 50 percent grown, processed or manufactured in Michigan.
The winner of the “Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year” award is selected by industry representatives on the basis of export growth, innovation, and the pursuit of new export markets.
The 2015 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year honor went to Star of the West Milling Co. of Frankenmuth, MI. Star of the West Milling Co. achieved an impressive growth in export sales from 2013-2014, representing a nearly 27 percent increase in sales for the business. Previous winners include: Continental Dairy, Connor Sports, Graceland Fruit, Cherry Central, Zeeland Farm Service, Walters Gardens, Honee Bear Canning, and Cooperative Elevator Company.
For more information, and an application, go to, www.michigan.gov/agexport or contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738.
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