CHERRY MARKETING INSTITUTE Chesher wrote a Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to promote and highlight the many attributes and year-round availability of Michigan-grown processed tart and sweet cherries to key decision makers at popular food trade shows. This project allows the cherry industry to assess various trade shows and identify new potential buyers to increase the sale and use of cherries. Marketers/processors were surveyed on the specific " Call us today! trade shows they felt would be most successful and identified approximately 10-12 shows that drew tremendous interest from multiple companies. The partnership with marketers/processors and MDARD provides CMI the ability to offer budget-friendly solutions to market and sell Michigan cherries at various trade shows, complementing all sectors of the Michigan processed sweet and tart industries. THIS PROJECT ALLOWS THE CHERRY INDUSTRY TO ASSESS VARIOUS TRADE SHOWS AND IDENTIFY NEW POTENTIAL BUYERS TO INCREASE THE SALE AND USE OF CHERRIES. - JULIE GORDON Trade shows bring all aspects of the industry together: consumers, distributors, supplies and manufacturers. Attending and exhibiting at major trade shows help raise awareness, cultivate business relationships and leads, and increase our understanding of the latest trends. CMI continues our transition to electronic newsletters and requests growers to supply email addresses, as we want to ensure all our communications are received. If you are a cherry grower and have not received the newsletters electronically, email Marissa Oakley at moakley@ usacherries.com to be added to our email list. 1-888-333-1464 | 231-714-4553 www.fruit-treesales.com fruit-treesales@outlook.com FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 39 "http://www.peachridge.com http://www.fruit-treesales.com http://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM