$500M apple industry promotes tourism with Michigan harvest markets

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

 

You might see it busily buzzing around Michigan—a new Dodge Sprinter wrapped in bright images of apples, children eating apples, and apple pies. The van is the latest piece of the Check In To Michigan Apples promotion by the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC), and the van’s driver is delivering free apples.

 

Beginning September 10, Dianna Stampfler of Promote Michigan will drive over 3,000 miles in three weeks delivering free half-pecks of Michigan apples to hotels in Grand Rapids, Holland, Detroit, Bay City, Petoskey and other cities.

 

“The apples go on the hotel’s front counter for guests,” Stampfler says. “We give them a display stand with the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Market & U-Pick Directories to encourage guests to go to the local farms.”

 

According to information provided by the MAC, apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop with a value of about $100 million annually to some 950 family-run farms throughout the Lower Peninsula. Value-added marketing and processing enhance the economic contribution of Michigan apples up to $400-500 million of economic impact annually.

 

Over 250 hotels participate in the promotion; about 30 of those are in Kent County. The apples and brochures are shipped to rural locations. Many of the hotels order apples to replenish the baskets because the guests enjoy them so much.

 

The van will be on display at the Eat Local Challenge kick-off dinner at San Chez Bistro on Friday, September 7.

 

K&M Northfield Dodge provided the van. Print Works Designs & Marketing designed the vinyl wrap. Design Edge Sign Company handled the application process.

 

Source: Dianna Stampfler, Promote Michigan; Michigan Apple Committee

 

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.