EXIM-Insured Exports Spur Michigan Dried Fruit Manufacturer's Steady Growth, Saving U.S. Jobs
July 16, 2019
(Ex-Im Bank)
Washington, D.C. – Michigan-based dried fruit
company, Graceland Fruit Inc., was able to save
the jobs of workers in the Midwest and grow
into international markets with the help of
export credit insurance from the Export-Import
Bank of the United States (EXIM).
All week long, as part of the White House’s
Made in America Week, EXIM is spotlighting
companies such as Graceland Fruit, whose
exporting success reflects how American
businesses contribute to U.S. economic
prosperity and sustain jobs in the United
States through sales of their goods and
services across the globe.
Graceland Fruit is headquartered in Frankfort,
Michigan, and employs more than 250 workers.
This small business has expanded substantially
since it was founded in 1973 in the heart of
northern Michigan’s famed cherry-growing
region. A pioneer and innovator in food
manufacturing, Graceland Fruit took a
forward-leaning approach to developing
international markets and began exporting its
products in 1995. The company’s
exports—shipped to 65 countries—now account
for about 60 percent of revenue.
Since 2011, Graceland Fruit has relied on
EXIM’s short-term export credit insurance,
which allowed the company to remain competitive
by offering extended payment terms to its
foreign customers. EXIM’s support provided a
consistent solution to Graceland that supported
the company’s ability to continuously
increase its exporting capability.
“EXIM is a vital part of our business,”
said Al DeVore, Graceland Fruit CEO. “It
helps to open a critical path to international
business that a smaller company like ours might
not otherwise be able to access. In short, the
majority of our revenue would not be possible
without the export credit insurance provided by
EXIM.”
For Graceland Fruit, the results have been
impressive. From 2014 to 2018, the company
shipped more than $159 million in exports
backed by EXIM. During that period, exports
have steadily and substantially
increased—rising from $24 million in 2014 to
$42 million in 2018. And the company is on
track to top that record in 2019, with more
than $30 million in exports so far this year.
Graceland Fruit has been honored by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture for exporter
excellence and has been named twice as the
Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year.
With facilities in Frankfort, Michigan, and
Warrens, Wisconsin, Graceland’s exporting
capabilities have created additional jobs for
the company. In 2018, Graceland assumed
operation of the Wisconsin processing facility
that exports most of its product, saving more
than 60 jobs that otherwise could have been
lost.
Graceland Fruit primarily produces dried
cranberries, cherries, blueberries, and apples,
which it markets to some of the largest food
manufacturers in the world. The company’s
dried fruits are used in breads, muffin mixes,
bagels, trail mixes, ice cream, frozen dough,
and many other consumer goods. The company also
sells directly to consumers in retail outlets
and online in the United States and China.
Welcome to the Exporting Source
Your one-stop resource for finding help to export to new customers, to learn about government export programs, to join export-promoting trade missions, to sign up for trade conferences and training, and to link to other exporting services. Whether you're an old hand at exporting or just getting started, the Exporting Source provides a place to locate foreign customers, export financing and foreign investment assistance.

The Export Practitioner
Providing readers with expert reports on changes to U.S. export licensing rules, enforcement policies and regulations for defense and dual-use products and technology.

Washington Tariff & Trade Letter
Providing exclusive, behind-the-scenes news and analysis every week of U.S. trade policies, regulations and legislation, export controls, trade sanctions, and enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duty laws.

Mastering Deemed Exports
An invaluable video training tool that helps exporters, universities and research laboratories alert all employees to the potential fines and legal sanctions that can come from violating EAR and ITAR restrictions on giving certain foreign nationals access to controlled U.S. technology.