International buyers from 17 countries are coming to Detroit on Aug. 10, and they're looking to purchase Michigan food and agricultural products. Early registration for the event closes June 12.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Food Export Association of the Midwest are bringing these buyers directly to farmers through the Summer in the Cities Buyers' Mission (SITC).
This isn't just another trade show. Buyers' missions put growers face-to-face with international buyers seeking to purchase food and agricultural products. Instead of cold-calling overseas companies or navigating foreign markets alone, qualified buyers come to growers, ready to do business.
Natasha Halabu, operator at Grandpapa's Snack Company in Hamtramck, Mich., knows firsthand how these connections pay off.
“Food Export's buyers' missions are amazing ways to connect with international buyers and make connections and relationships with different countries,” she said. “Because of the help we have received from MDARD and Food Export, we currently sell our products in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, Canada and many more.”
When MDARD and Food Export hosted this same event in Grand Rapids in 2024, Michigan companies generated more than $1.6 million in immediate export sales and more than $5 million in projected export sales. Those are real dollars flowing back to Michigan farms and food businesses.
This year's Detroit event will feature buyers from Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Peru, the Philippines, Vietnam and 10 other countries. They're specifically interested in snacks, beverages, nuts, dairy products, meat products, desserts and confectionery.
For complete buyer profiles and the full list of products of interest, visit the Food Export webpage.
The SITC Buyers' Mission will also take place in Indianapolis and Albany, N.Y., but the Detroit stop on Aug. 10 is the chance to showcase Michigan agriculture on home turf.
For more information about the Detroit event, visit the Food Export webpage or contact MDARD's International Marketing Program with questions about participating.
Grant boosts dairy farm opportunities, jobs
Michigan dairy farmers will soon have access to a significantly expanded market for their milk, thanks to a $275,000 state grant that's helping fuel a massive expansion at Fairlife's Coopersville processing facility.
MDARD announced the Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grant to Fairlife LLC, which will support a $650 million expansion project expected to create 150 new jobs and dramatically increase demand for Michigan milk.
The expansion represents a major win for the state's dairy industry. Once complete, the Coopersville facility will increase its milk intake by up to 4 million pounds per day — a more than 60% jump from current levels.
Currently, the facility sources more than 6 million pounds of raw milk daily from more than 30 Michigan dairy farms. The expansion creates substantial new market opportunities that will strengthen farm revenues and support long-term sustainability for dairy operations across the state.
The project will add two new high-speed production lines using Fairlife's patented ultrafiltration technology and expand the plant by more than 245,000 square feet. The investment reflects growing consumer demand for Fairlife's dairy-based products, including ultra-filtered milk, Core Power and Fairlife Nutrition Plan protein shakes.
Fairlife, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, employs more than 1,000 workers nationwide, including over 400 in Michigan.
The FAIP grant program offers financial support for projects that expand food and agriculture processing, enable industry growth and strengthen Michigan's economy.
Since fiscal 2019, MDARD has awarded more than $6.4 million in FAIP grants as part of over $250 million delivered during the past seven years to help local communities build infrastructure, promote agricultural prosperity, ensure food safety and create jobs.