February 2023 - 31

CHERRY MARKETING INSTITUTE
presents so well and sets the bar
so high. My presentation included
an overview of the assessments,
production and various programs
that we administer for the U.S. tart
cherry industry and the Michigan
sweet cherry industry.
CMI was fortunate last fiscal year
to receive $838,110 in grant funding
and donations to
complement the
lower assessment
funding from the
short 2020 and
2021 Michigan
cherry crops. We continue to try
to leverage grower assessments
to maintain all of programs that
are administered under the CMI
umbrella.
My presentation also included the
work that has been completed and
what we are currently working on,
domestically and internationally,
with the grant funding that we have
been awarded to promote U.S.
Montmorency tart cherries, as well
as Michigan sweet cherries.
In addition to the Market Access
Funding (MAP) funding that we
are awarded from USDA we also
executed an Emerging Market
Program (EMP) in Mexico utilizing
EMP funding from USDA. This
was an excellent way to access
the market for possible future
promotion efforts and to provide us
with clear directions on what sector
and products would work best to
promote in that market. This year we
wrote an EMP grant for Thailand.
I also presented an overview of
the other programs and events that
we run in addition to marketing
and promotion. Health benefit and
production research are underway
for 2023. We reviewed the several
other state and national commodity
groups that we partner with on
committees and projects. We strived
to show the importance of the great
partnerships that we have made
over the years and the value of these
important relationships.
FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 31
During the luncheon program, the
National Cherry Festival presented
the Very Cherry Promotional Award
to Shoreline Fruit and the Lifetime
Achievement Award to Gene and
Kathy Garthe. MCC also presented
Jim Nugent with a Cherry Industry
Distinguished Service Award for his
services to the Michigan Tree Fruit
Commission. Joe
Muvrin, Daryl
Peterson and Jim
Flore were all
acknowledged
for their service
on the Michigan Cherry Committee
and Olivia Coolman shared some of
her exciting experiences so far in her
reign as the 2022-23 National Cherry
Queen. Sen. Debbie Stabenow could
not attend the luncheon; however, we
played a video message from her to
our industry stakeholders.
The luncheon program
concluded with a video that Nate
Chesher, CMI marketing director,
put together celebrating the
Michigan Cherry Committee's
50th anniversary. MCC was
established in May 1972 and
with the passing of the 2022
cherry referendum, we wanted
to celebrate all the growers,
processors, stakeholders,
partners and friends capturing
great moments over the years.
Thanks to all the board
members, cherry growers,
marketers and special guests that
were in attendance to celebrate
CMI's 34th annual meeting and the
MCC 50th anniversary. Special
thanks to Dr. Nikki Rothwell and
her team at the NW Horticulture
Station for all their hard work to
make the show a great success.
http://www.treco.nu http://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM
February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2023
