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Welcome to the Marketing Minute, highlighting the
marketing and development activities of the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture |
 Plentiful Christmas Tree Crop Prompts Publicity This week's news that Minnesota's Christmas tree crop is one of the best in years resulted in a flurry of consumer activity for growers. Minnesota Grown spokesman Paul Hugunin says the local news publicity prompted buyers to head out to farms and tree lots several days before the normal holiday rush (the day after Thanksgiving). "The growers told us they're having an outstanding crop so we got the word out about it and the phone started ringing," said Hugunin. "The purpose of the Minnesota Grown Program is to help farmers market their products and this is a great example of their program membership paying dividends." Minnesota Grown member Bill Brabeck of Silver Bell Tree Farm summed it up in a recent email:
"I have been receiving approximately 7 calls a day inquiring about my tree business. When I ask my customers where they have heard of my business, they reply the Minnesota Grown web site."
Minnesota Christmas Tree Association executive director and Minnesota Grown member Jan Donelson says the heavy spring rains resulted in a lush crop and plenty of real trees for consumers to choose from. Donelson is one of about 50 growers listed in the Minnesota Grown Directory which makes finding a real tree easy for consumers. |
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Plan Your 2012 Food Export Activities
Minnesota exporters should plan their 2012 activities through Food Export Midwest. Food Export has planned more than 60 events worldwide, including Buyers Missions, Food Shows, Trade Missions, Webinars and Seminars. There's something for everyone interested in exporting food and value-added ag products! Whether you're an exporting veteran looking for a new market (i.e. Focused Trade Mission to Poland and the Czech Republic), or a "new-to-export" company looking for an activity to gather information (i.e. How to Prepare for Meetings with Foreign Buyers), researching these events now will allow you to sign up for the activities that will benefit you the most in 2012.
Right now Food Export Midwest is offering a special promotion - sign up for one activity and pay by December 16, and you'll receive a voucher for 20 percent off a second.
And remember, Food Export's Branded Program can give your export marketing twice the punch! If you offer a product with 50 percent U.S. ag ingredients (excluding water and packaging), you have fewer than 500 employees and you're incorporated in the U.S., then you likely qualify for 50 percent reimbursement of the cost of many export marketing activities. Plan your 2012 export marketing now to take advantage! |
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Save the Date for MN Organic Conference!
Grab your planner and fill in a mid-January jaunt to St. Cloud and the 2012 Minnesota Organic Conference. The popular, annual event will grow in 2012 to include even more trade show vendors, educational breakout sessions and nationally renowned keynote speakers.
Scheduled January 13-14, 2012 at the River's Edge Convention Center (formerly the St. Cloud Civic Center), the conference is a great opportunity for organic farmers and processors to network and to showcase their products.
"This conference attracts more people every year because there's something for everyone," says Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Organic Specialist Meg Moynihan. "We make it worthwhile for those farmers just starting out in organic, those who are in transition and those who've been doing it for years. People tell us they love the education at the conference, but they also like seeing old friends and meeting new people."
Featured speakers this year include Chuck Benbrook, Chief Scientist for The Organic Center in Boulder, Colorado; Jim Goodman, a journalist and organic farmer from Wonewoc, Wisconsin; and Elaine Ingham, President of Soil Foodweb, Inc., and Chief Scientist at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. In addition, Minnesota farmer, conservationist, and author Jim VanDerPol will read from his new book Conversations with the Land.
Nearly 36 breakout sessions at the conference will cover timely topics like weed control, water management, soil biology, poultry production, beef genetics, vegetable season extension, contracting, and market outlooks.
Look for more info and registration materials coming soon. |
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Upcoming events
12/1-3, Jackpot Junction, Morton
12/3-4, Jackpot Junction, Morton
12/7-12/8, Alerus Center, Grand Forks |
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AG STATS
Minnesota ranks 10th in the nation in the production of Christmas trees according to the MN Christmas Tree Assoc.
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Discounted Space Available at FMI, NRA Shows
MDA is offering up to 15 discounted booth spaces for MN companies at two important 2012 shows. It's a great deal for companies wanting to expand from local/regional, to national distribution!
We worked with NASDA coordinators to set aside discounted space in a MN Pavilion at FMI (US Food Showcase) May 1-3 in Dallas and NRA (American Food Fair) May 5-8 in Chicago.
We're offering a $300 discount per company, per show!
For those companies with a national presence, these shows serve as an annual reason to visit and service customers and look for new distributors or retailers.
There is also a Food Export Midwest "Buyers Mission" associated with each show, creating an economical "domestic" export event.
To receive the discounted rates, participants must be MN-based, and offer products with U.S. ag-content. The discounted rate will apply to the first 15 qualifying MN companies that return the application. Email Brian brian.j.erickson@state.mn.us for more info and the application form. |
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Find Market Profiles, Ag Export Stats Online
MDA's Ag Economist Su Ye recently updated her annual "Minnesota Agricultural Exports" publication that revealed the total value of Minnesota agricultural exports exceeded $5 billion in 2010.
This is an increase of around
22 percent from 2009 - driven largely by the surge in value of our major commodities like soybeans, corn, other grains, and livestock/cattle.
Find more of Su's reports here. |
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