MI: COMMISSION OF AG HIGHLIGHTS A DECADE OF GROWTH & SUCCESS IN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
News Date November 10, 2009
Yesterday, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture heard special testimony from the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Agriculture Development Division highlighting the growth and achievements of Michigan’s agri-food industry over the past 12 years and the role MDA has played. From the birth of the state’s renewable fuels sector to expanding agriculture-based businesses to identifying ways consumers can buy local foods, MDA’s Agriculture Development (AgD) Division helped bring these initiatives to fruition.
“In just 12 short years, thanks in part to the tremendous efforts of MDA’s Agriculture Development Division, the state’s agri-food sector in Michigan has grown from $55 billion in 1997 to $71.3 billion in 2009. That’s a 129 percent increase,” said James Byrum, Commission chair. “As one of the few economic bright spots in the state, it is essential that the Commission recognize the intrinsic role the food and agriculture industry play in Michigan’s economic well-being.” (Contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-241-2485)