Unlock the door to food business expansion at the Making It In Michigan virtual conference

Diane Longanbach<longbach@msu.edu>, MSU Extension - April 01, 2021

Michigan food businesses are invited to participate in the event starting April 27, 2021.

The Michigan State University Product Center team is taking the Making It In Michigan Conference to a virtual format in 2021. The conference and trade show will be held from April 27 to May 6, 2021. The virtual conference will provide a space for Michigan food entrepreneurs to learn the keys to business expansion from business owners, advanced processors and distributors, University staff, and industry experts.

Is this virtual conference worth your time? During COVID-19, buyers are sourcing new products online and businesses are pivoting to adjust to the new industry. Participating in this virtual conference is a way to grow your production and distribution during this challenging time.

Attendees can register for the conference by visiting the Making It In Michigan Conference web page. Sessions will include:

How to Get Your Beverages to Market
Access to Meat and Dairy Processing
Innovative Approaches to Value-Added Agriculture, Next Steps
Next Level Sauces, Dips, Condiments and Salsa
Understanding Seafood Sellers’ and Customers’ Needs
Next Level Snacks, Bars and Dried Goods
Taking it to the Next Level: Funding, Marketing, & More
How to Make Sustainability Work for You
Advanced Processing and Distribution

In addition to the Making It In Michigan Virtual Conference and Trade Show, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan Department of Economic Development Pure Michigan Business Connect are partnering to offer a unique and free matchmaking opportunity for buyers and sellers.

Joining the program this year will be a Michigan Good Food Fund pitch competition and a collegiate chef recipe showdown in partnership with the Michigan Bean Commission. For detailed conference or trade show information visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/miim/ or contact ANR Event Services at events@anr.msu.edu.

Michigan State University Extension and the MSU Product Center support entrepreneurs in the food industry by offering food product businesses the information and tools they need to succeed today. Previous Making It In Michigan conferences have attracted nearly 200 food product businesses and dozens of food business buyers.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).