<div id="subtitle">Eat up! Michigan launches culinary tourism effort to showcase local food, wine</div><div><p>Michigan is launching an effort to promote culinary tourism and encourage local offerings on restaurant menus.</p><p>Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto said he hopes the program will help increase sales and profitability for Michigan's specialty crop producers, and promote Michigan as a destination for culinary travel experiences.</p><p>"With agriculture and tourism as the state's second and third largest industries, it makes sense to promote Michigan as a rewarding travel destination for educational, healthy and tasty food experiences," Koivisto said in a statement.</p><p>MDA will help develop a Michigan Culinary Tourism Alliance in partnership with the Michigan Restaurant Association and Travel Michigan.</p><p>Cherries, wine, and apple cider are some of the products the state is already known for.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65834744&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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