The program shall be focused primarily on funding for research, education and promotion to improve and support Michigan wine grape and wine production and consumer awareness.
 
Petition to be signed only by those Michigan wine grape growers who grow or cause to be grown more than 3 tons of grapes for the production of wine for commercial use in any one of the last three years.

The petition is only to say they are interested in exploring the possibility of a 232 checkoff program. It is in the verbage at the top of the petition. Signing the petition will NOT put a 232 program in place. There are additional steps for that to happen.
 
If / when sufficient signatures are obtained the next step is a committee of growers appointed by the Governor to explore what the assessment would entail. That would involve the committee putting together some ideas with input from the grower community and then having public meetings in the NW, SW and possibly another meeting to represent other areas of the state with vineyards to seek input and discussion among the growers.
 
If there seems to be support from growers the next step is a statewide referendum by all wine grape growers to approve the program. If approved, this process continues with review / renewal or not every 5 years.
 
Currently, there is no unified grower group that represents grape growers for the entire state. Importantly, the 232 funds give growers a seat at the table with MDARD and with MSU / Project GREEEN.

UPDATE:
From: Deacon, Brad (MDARD) <deaconb9@michigan.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 8:19 AM
To: Brian Lillie <BLillie@chateauchantal.com>
Cc: Guardiola, Jamie (MDARD) <GuardiolaJ1@michigan.gov>
Subject: RE: Public Act 232 for Wine Grapes

Brian – that’s correct, though there are some other nuances, importantly the definition of producer:
"Producer" means a person engaged in the business of producing, or causing to be produced for any market, an agricultural commodity or agricultural commodity input in quantity beyond that person's own family use, and having a value at first point of sale of more than $800.00 or of an amount as otherwise expressly provided for in a marketing program for the agricultural commodity or agricultural commodity input in any 1 growing and marketing season within the last 3 years.
So, someone who is growing but not enough to meet the definition would not be assessed or be eligible to vote on the program. Relatedly, the petition could further limit who would be part of the proposal. One of the challenges starting a check-off is trying to figure out how many producers there are and how to ensure they get notice and are able to participate in the process.
 
Happy to discuss further.
Also, I’ve attached an overview document for starting a program under PA 232.
 
Brad Deacon
Director, Office of Legal Affairs
& Emergency Management
Michigan Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development
 
 
 
From: Brian Lillie <BLillie@chateauchantal.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 7:32 AM
To: Guardiola, Jamie (MDARD) <GuardiolaJ1@michigan.gov>; Deacon, Brad (MDARD) <deaconb9@michigan.gov>
Subject: Public Act 232 for Wine Grapes

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Good morning,

I hope this note finds you well.

We are in process of exploring a check-off program for our industry. I want to confirm my reading of the statute PA 232. My interpretation is that I need signatures from 25% of the total wine grape growers for the petition piece and the 51% of growers representing 51% of acreage grown in commercial production for approval for the referendum piece.

Thanks for any insight that you may be able to offer.

Brian Lillie
Vice President of Hospitality Operations and Distribution
The Award Winning Chateau Chantal Winery
President
Michigan Wine Collaborative