LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has announced another trade mission to China.

 

The trip, scheduled for November, will be the seventh such trade mission to China in as many years. Led by MDARD officials, it will guide Michigan agribusinesses to Hangzhou and Shanghai, China, Nov. 6-8. According to MDARD, the mission will include one-on-one meetings with vetted buyers, retail tours and briefings with USDA officials.

“I am very excited to lead another group of incredible Michigan agribusinesses to China,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams. “China’s middle class continues to grow, as do the e-commerce opportunities, which provide enormous potential for many Michigan food and agriculture companies.”

According to the most recent statistics, in 2015 Michigan food and agriculture exports to China totaled more than $71 million. Companies participating in last year’s trade mission projected a total sales increase of nearly $1 million within 6-12 months as a direct result of participating in the trade mission, MDARD stated.

The department has also partnered with a nonprofit group called Food Export Assoc. of the Midwest on a trade mission to South Korea, immediately following the China trip. Businesses are invited to attend that as well; it will take place Nov. 9-10.

Food Export Midwest and its sister organization, Food Export Northeast, are comprised of 12 Midwest and 10 Northeast state agricultural promotion agencies that provide U.S. companies with programs and services businesses need for export and to sell their products internationally.

According to Food Export Midwest, in 2014 the companies that participated in Food Export programs and activities gained $1.2 billion in export sales to countries around the globe. Both of these organizations receive funding through the Foreign Agricultural Service’ Market Access Program, which is part of the USDA.

Cherry Central Cooperative of Traverse City is one business that’s benefited from a recent trade mission. “We have contacts with new buyers and have learned which ports are the most efficient for delivery into China,” said Brian Klumpp, director of business development at Cherry Central.

“The financial assistance of the (Food Export Midwest’) Branded Program made it possible for Cherry Central personnel to meet with strategic companies to our business. Those meetings have helped to build our relationships and better understand what we can do to capitalize on the tremendous Chinese market.”

Klumpp added that since his 2016 trip to China, the cooperative has met with three interested parties to try to negotiate export guidelines.

The cost to participate in the MDARD China trade mission is $1,000. The application deadline is August 23 and the mission is limited to 12 companies. Companies are responsible for travel, hotel and incidental costs. The trade mission to South Korea has a separate participation fee of $600.

For more information, contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5738. More information about the China and South Korea trade missions is also available online at www.michigan.gov/ChinaTM