BY JESI MUNGUIA
The Michigan Business Development Program is supporting the expansion of Cherry Growers and Materne North America. The companies are investing $35.9 million and adding 137 new jobs in Michigan.
In a statement announcing the deal, the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said the companies, "exemplify Michigan's improving economy and it's strategy to help companies flourish and grow."
Amy Deprez is Director of Development and Finance for the MEDC. She said Cherry Growers and Materne are partnering up to manufacture healthy and convenient pouch-based fruit snacks...
For 15 years these two companies are gonna work and actually co- exist to manufacture the product that is currently only manufactured I think in France. Cherry Growers is existing in the state of Michigan where Materne was not. It was a french company so it's a partnership between the two.
Deprez said that even with the lack of fruit crops this year the companies will not be affected. The two companies are in a agreement to have fruit shipped in from other states if need be.