August 2, 2006, LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking farmers, farmers’ markets, agricultural tourism businesses and specialty food processors to display, promote and sell their products in the Agriculture Building at this year’s Michigan State Fair, August 23 through September 4, 2006.

The Select Michigan Country Store will feature Michigan processed specialty food and agriculture items. The Blue Ribbon Farmers’ Market will feature Michigan-grown fruit, vegetables, nursery stock, flowers and other agricultural products. In addition to vendor space, educational display space is available for municipal farmers’ markets and farm market/agri-tourism operations to promote the activities and products offered at their markets.

The Michigan State Fair runs 13 days in August and September and has an attendance of 350,000 people from across the state. Vendors can participate for one day, all 13 days, or any number of days in between.

In addition to the Select Michigan Country Store and Blue Ribbon Farmers’ Market, the Agriculture Building will feature Michigan State University educational displays on nutrition, food preparation and storage. Several Michigan commodity organizations will sponsor a cooking demonstration area and farm-to-fork exhibit for children. MDA will also host exhibits on invasive species, Emerald Ash Borer, gasoline inspection and more.

For additional information and a vendor registration form, please visit www.michigan.gov/agtourism or contact Jeanne Lipe, Agricultural Tourism/Economic Development Manager, MDA, at 517/373-9790 or lipej@michigan.gov.

Registration forms and deposits must be received by Monday, August 14, 2006.

• Farm Market Ag Tourism Form
• Farmers' Market and Vendors' Form
• Country Store Vendors' Form