Light of Day Organics Grows Business with Help from MSU Product Center

Angela Macke of Light of Day Organics

Angela Macke, of Light of Day Organics in Traverse City, Michigan, grows 240 different products on her farm that are used in blends for tea and tisanes, which are "teas" made from roots, bark, berries, dried fruits, herbs, flowers, and other sources.

The MSU Product Center assisted with general business counseling, target demographics, and finding a connection in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition for nutrition labeling.

Light of Day Organics also markets black, green, white, oolong, and chakra teas. All of these are imported except a portion of the white tea. "All our imported ingredients are Fair Trade certified," said Macke. "Since I use only 100% organic Fair Trade certified teas and ingredients in our recipes, I have a limited selection of leaf style offerings but the quality and taste is quite exceptional."

Macke utilizes her professional training in nursing, biology, health studies, and horticulture to teach others about the health and well-being that can be achieved through holistic health management, which includes incorporating the teas and products she grows and markets. Her farm products are both organic certified and biodynamic certified.

Light of Day Organics Genmai-cha Tea

Macke started Light of Day Organics in 2004 with a three-and-a-half-acre patch of sun on her farm and 12 different tea blends. She now produces over 90 different teas on 25 acres. Her products are available nline (http://lightofdayorganics.com) as well as through 40 specialty food distributors nationwide.

Although Macke wishes she had found the Product Center earlier in her business development, she said that Matt Birbeck had provided general business counseling and help with her target demographics, and she also had done some work with Janice Harte (in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition) on nutritional labeling. "The Product Center is just a great resource for the people of Michigan," she said. "I plan to use its resources on new products and packaging."

Light of Day Organics was named the Michigan Small Business of the Year for 2008-2009 by the State of Michigan and Angela Macke was named Environmentalist of the Year for Business in 2007 by the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council.