Food/Agribusiness
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When Chico, Calif.-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. put out the “bat signal” seeking help to support victims of last year’s catastrophic Camp Fire in northern California, the Michigan craft brewing industry set into motion. Their rallying point: Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. Sierra Nevada created the beer as a fundraiser, pledging to donate 100 percent of its profits from the sale of the product to the Camp Fire Relief Fund. The 10th-largest U.S. brewery then shared the recipe online and encouraged breweries all over the country to participate.
Planned Independent Barley & Malt facility signs supplier agreement with The Andersons
Written by Joe BoomgaardLITCHFIELD — Proposed commercial-scale maltster Independent Barley & Malt Inc. has signed an exclusive supplier agreement with Maumee, Ohio-based The Andersons Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Litchfield-based Independent Barley & Malt will use The Andersons (Nasdaq: ANDE) to source, supply, deliver and store the malting barley it will use in its operations.
GRAND RAPIDS — A federal judge has ordered the financially-embattled Boersen Farms Inc., related entity Boersen Farms AG LLC, and its owners to pay nearly $14.9 million to Tennessee-based Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC for unpaid debts.
A federal agency has charged Michigan’s largest egg producer with harassing a line worker and then retaliating against her for reporting the behavior.
Discussions about global warming often concern what could happen in the future, but West Michigan fruit growers are adapting to changes in the climate that have already been happening for decades. Jeff VanderWerff, a fourth-generation grower at Sparta-based VanderWerff Farms LLC, said he and his brother, Joe VanderWerff, spend more time than they care to admit watching changing climate patterns.
Saugatuck Brewing Co. plans to acquire Kalamazoo-based Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing, pending various regulatory approvals.
Pabst Brewing Co. appears to be jumping into the spirits product category with the help of a West Michigan brewery and distillery.
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS — The partners behind Wonderland Distilling Co. want to position their spirits as a connection to the outdoors culture in West Michigan and a link to the water that surrounds it. The startup distillery has already signed a lease and has started construction on production space in Muskegon Heights and expects to submit its federal licensing paperwork in the coming weeks, said Allen Serio, Wonderland’s chief marketing and sales officer.
Craft brewers leverage cheaper, more efficient production models to get beer to market
Written by Joe BoomgaardTwo West Michigan craft brewers operating with vastly differing business models are taking a similar approach to growing their operations by using capacity at other breweries. Both Sawyer-based Greenbush Brewing Co. and Muskegon-based Rake Beer Project LLC are taking advantage of a production model that allows them to get beer into the market without a significant upfront capital investment.
A West Michigan brewpub in planning has agreed to change its name as part of a settlement in a trademark infringement case brought by Railtown Brewing Co. last August.
After latest acquisition, Riveridge to represent half of Michigan’s fresh apple market
Written by Jessica YoungSPARTA — Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., the largest supplier of Michigan apples, has acquired the sales operation of Sparta-based Jack Brown Produce Inc.
Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill provides much-needed certainty and support — and not just for Michigan farmers. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, is a multi-faceted piece of legislation that affects Michigan’s farmers and farm workers, equipment manufacturers, food processing businesses, retailers, and many other people across the state.
The acquisition of an animal genomics laboratory in Alberta will position Neogen Corp. to more rapidly grow its business in Canada.
In 2019, City Built Brewing Co. hopes to add a rooftop bar and a street parklet so it can offer outdoor seating during the warmer months at its location in Grand Rapids’ Monroe North neighborhood, according to co-founder Edwin Collazo. “We’re right on the river. We’re going to take advantage of those things that bring people to this area anyways.”
After completing the acquisition of Legacy Seeds Inc. in August 2018, Tillerman Seeds LLC aims to continue executing on its growth strategy and supporting its portfolio of seed companies. President Jim Sheppard said the goal is to find the right fit when acquiring new companies.
Strata Business Services LLC is a “specialized small business solutions company” that focuses on investments in the medical marijuana sector in Michigan and other states. As of Dec. 6, adult-use recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan after voters approved Proposal 1 during the midterm election.
A federal court ordered a West Michigan-based food manufacturer of ready-to-eat foods, including prepared salads, dips, and sauces, to discontinue selling food products until the company complies with federal regulations and other requirements.
Editor's Notebook: Bills to eliminate economies of scale for some craft brewers
Written by Joe BoomgaardA slate of lame duck legislation has the potential to stifle growth for Michigan’s $2 billion craft beer industry.
A series of bipartisan bills fast-tracked for the state Legislature’s lame-duck session would redefine the laws governing how Michigan-based alcoholic beverage producers operate.
GRAND RAPIDS — SpartanNash Co. plans to acquire Martin’s Super Markets Inc., a family-owned grocery chain based in South Bend, Ind.
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP — A maker of sugar-free candies will invest $2.3 million to expand its operations north of Grand Rapids.
‘Farming Revolution:’ Producer finishes first aquaponics harvest, advocates for more locally-grown food
Written by Mitch GallowayCALEDONIA — As consumers’ interests shift to a more locally-focused food supply chain, companies like Revolution Farms LLC hope to change how that food is grown.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association plans to invest $24 million to expand its existing dairy plant operations in St. Joseph County.
Despite construction being “slightly behind” schedule, Zeeland Farm Services Inc. expects full operation of its new Ithaca soybean processing facility to come online in September 2019, according to President Cliff Meeuwsen.
Precision performance: West Michigan farmers adopt tech to save time, money
Written by Mitch GallowayBy implementing auto-steer technology on tillage equipment, Jeff VanderWerff has increased efficiency by roughly 15 percent on his 2,000-acre Kent County farm.
As discussions over international trade policies have ramped up in recent months, West Michigan farmers say more needs to be done to ensure the U.S. has a “level playing field” with other countries.
Agriculture Roundtable: West Michigan farmers remain optimistic, despite a flurry of industry challenges
Written by Mitch GallowayNot even depressed commodity prices, stalled trade talks, labor constraints and climate change can stanch farmers’ optimism.
SARANAC — Inking a deal with a Chinese firm will allow a West Michigan machine control software developer to reach a broader market, as well as possibly move beyond some legal troubles that have plagued it over the last decade.
Feeling Blue - Facing worker shortage, farmers find flaws with visa process, say reforms needed
Written by Mitch GallowayHOLLAND — A farmworker shortage and low commodity prices are forcing West Michigan blueberries farmers to alter how they approach their harvests.
The U.S. House and Senate each passed their own very different version of the 2018 farm bill, setting up a sprint to a Sept. 30 deadline, when the current legislation expires. If they fail to come to a compromise and pass a bill that President Trump will sign, farmers could face disruptions in many crucial federal programs covered by the farm bill, including crop insurance programs and agricultural research, as well as food assistance for low-income citizens.
KALAMAZOO — The $12 million in new capital Vestaron Corp. seeks to raise would enable the company to complete a journey to bring to market a new environmentally friendly pesticide.
EXPANDING THE PIE: Council includes broader representation from state’s craft beverage sectors
Written by Joe BoomgaardVander Heide, the current president of the Michigan Cider Association, said the cider industry fought hard to be included specifically in the new law’s language outlining the council’s governing board.
An update to Michigan law is bringing a more equitable approach to how license fees from craft beverage producers are spent.
Prolonged pricing pressures dim outlook for many in Michigan’s dairy industry
Written by Mitch GallowayPaul Pyle is no stranger to the turmoil facing Michigan dairy farmers.
So far in 2018, his Zeeland-based Pyle Dairy Farm Inc. is experiencing its worst year on record. With little funds available to replace dilapidated equipment, Pyle’s often left “duct-taping stuff together” to keep his farm operations afloat.
An often overlooked component of the ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan would create a commercial market for pot’s more utilitarian relative: hemp.
On the label of a recently released pale ale, New Belgium Brewing Co. proclaims “Hops and hemp reign — together at last.”
Scale Matters: Michigan hop growers face overcapacity challenges, stiff competition
Written by Mitch GallowayWith an oversupply of many hop varieties in the marketplace, growers might look to curb their growth until demand increases
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As a third-generation farmer at Hamilton-based Koeman Farms, Steve Koeman is monitoring how possible tariffs could affect the economics of his family business.
Tariffs could threaten Michigan’s $2.7 billion ag exports, industry experts warn
Written by Mitch GallowayMichigan’s farmers and food processors are closely watching how talks of trade wars and retaliatory tariffs could affect the nearly $2.7 billion in exports they send to other countries.
Farming's female future? West Michigan women buck stereotypes with ag industry careers
Written by Mitch GallowayGRAND RAPIDS — The new generation of agricultural leaders across West Michigan will likely look different than your grandfather’s farm.
For West Michigan cideries and distilleries, success comes by educating consumers
Written by Joe BoomgaardWhile they operate in the shadow of West Michigan’s brewing industry, local cideries, distilleries and wineries make up a growing piece of the region’s overall craft beverage scene.
Highly leveraged farmers could face distress amid volatility in ag industry, pricing
Written by Mitch GallowayFarmers’ increasing use of credit to finance operations has left some operators financially exposed during a volatile period for the industry.