Michigan farm leader Andrea Herrygers named MACMA general manager

According to Mitch Galloway with Michigan Farm News, Oceana County Farm Bureau member Andrea Herrygers will be named GM of the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association (MACMA), effective April 27. She is replacing Dawn Drake, who retires after four decades in the position.

As general manager of MACMA, Herrygers will serve the Michigan Processing Apple Growers Marketing Committee and work closely with Nick Nadai in support of the Michigan Asparagus Growers Division of MACMA.

MACMA is a 400-member apple-grower organization. Herrygers’ official tasks include negotiating processing prices for crops, locating out-of-state markets and procuring USDA bonus buys. 

“I am very excited for Andrea to fill this position,” Drake told Michigan Farm News. “She brings great knowledge from a grower perspective herself as well as the importance of the processing industry. She’ll do a fantastic job.”

Who is Andrea Herrygers?

Andrea and her husband, Caleb, live in Hart with their three sons. She grew up on a row crop farm in Huron County and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in agribusiness management, later moving to West Michigan, where she learned more about the state’s fruit and vegetable industry.

Previously, Herrygers worked as a sub agent for Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan’s Life, Property and Casualty in Hart. Over the last eight years, she has worked with Nestle USA to build relationships with growers, negotiating with suppliers, factories and service providers. She also led a nationwide raw apple and pear procurement strategy.

As a fruit buyer, Herrygers managed farm-to-factory decisions and advised on business directions affecting the consumer.