TLW, commented on my post yesterday about when she thinks of Michigan she thinks of cold, snow, ice and blizzards. I got a kick out of that, because I grew up in the South and when I found out we were moving to Ann Arbor Michigan , all I thought about was rusted cars driving to passing through Kentucky to get to Florida.
Perhaps you didn't know that Michigan is also known for the following:
The Bissell Carpet Sweeper founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1876 and still operates there.
Kellogg's Corn Flakes in Battle Creek, Michigan, founded in 1906. Battle Creek is still called Cereal City.
Faygo Soft Drinks, up here we called them pop. The East Coast calls them soda and in the South where I grew up every soft drink was called coke. "I'd like a coke please?" What kind? Diet Pepsi. It is known for drinks like Rock and Rye and root beer.
Vernor's Ginger Ale, anyone that grew up in Michigan was given this ginger ale when they had a stomach ache. It was started in 1862 by a pharmacist in Detroit and although I don't care for the taste Michiganders do love their Vernors.
Herman Miller Furniture was and still is one of the largest office furniture manufacturers. Started in 1923 in Zeeland, Michigan.
Simplicity Pattern Company and is one of the most well known companies for people who like to sew. I don't sew but I took a class in high school, it was bad. Simplicity Patterns was started in 1927 in Niles, Michigan.
Gerber Baby Foods, was started in 1928, well I'm sure most moms know of this one. It was started because a lady who was straining vegetables for her baby and realized this could be done in mass.
Whirlpool Washers, was started in 1911 by the company then known as the Upton Machine Company in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Mark Swanson Guitars, custom designed and built for the true musician is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Welch's Grape Juice, hummm we've all heard of this, but did you know it is in Lawton, Michigan and was started in 1919?
Eckrich hot dogs and meat products, was started in 1926 and is now a world wide name for meat products is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jiffy Mix, is located in my county in the city of Chelsea, Michigan by the Chelsea Mining Company. It began in 1930.
Butterball Turkey was started in Grand Rapids in 1954.
Old Orchard Juice the third largest frozen fruit juice sold in the U.S. and the 9th largest bottled juice brand. Started in Sparta, Michigan.
Meijer's was started in Greenville, Michigan by Hendrick Meijer in 1934. Today they have 150 stores in Michigan and the Midwest but are quickly spreading south. Great prices, one stop shopping.
Juke Boxes by Rowe International rolled out its 1 millionth juke box last year and is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
So, from baby food, cereal, music (don't forget Mo-Town was born in Detroit) furniture, Michigan is a state with tons of creativity and inventions.
This year when you are eating your Butterball Turkey, think Michigan. 
Unless TLW is shooting you one and sending it to you!
Care to share some of things made in your state?
MISSY: You did a great job researching the products coming out of Michigan. Very interesting. I know that it hasn't been a great season, but what about the Wolverines? Go Blue. Big weekend this weekend!
WoW, Missy ! That's quite a list. I didn't realize all of those brand names had started in Michigan. Here in Ontario we call soda 'pop' also.
I don't sew either and like you, I took one class in high school....I have Kenmore sewing machine that my Dad bought me a few years back, sitting idly in my closet.
This is a very interesting post...
((-:
Jo
Hi Missy. This is a fun list. I grew up in Michigan and didn't know about all of these. When I think of Michigan I think of cherries, the auto industry, Frankenmuth and Mackinac Island. Have a good day! :)
Good Morning Missy! What a great post! I knew I liked Michigan...all the good food that came out of there! LOL!
The thing that comes to my mind immediately from Texas is Dr. Pepper. It's made and bottled in Waco.
Missy,
I am impressed with your state...'We' love Michigan and Michiganders...It's that we aren't crazy about 'wolverines'...got it??? LOL, Thanks, Fran
P.S. You guys probably don't like 'nittany lions'!!!
Great Post Missy
I feel a blog about my own state coming on. We are known for our CRABS! LOL
Like Al asks - Where in the South did you grow up?
Hi Missy, what a great list. I must admit, I do like Vernors, Michigander thing like you said!
I would add Lay-Z-Boy furniture to that list too! Great post!
Missy - I thought of some more Texas things:
Pecan Pie
Chicken Fried Steak
Tex Mex food
Frozen Margueritas
Wow, an awesome job with this one Missy! When you wrote about Faygo did you sing the song? BTW, I have to have Vernors when I have the flu. Any other Ginger Ale will not work for me.
Missy, that is an awesome list!! I am familiar with many things on your list, as I grew up in Chicago and spend many a summer in Michigan. Thanks for an interesting post.
Adam, thank you and YES GO BLUE!!
Jo-Anne, all my relatives laugh when I say POP. They think it is so funny.
Kelly, I think cherries in Travers City too and apples. I love Frakenmuth too, cute and fun to shop in.
Maggie, there is a large Albanian community in Detroit. Come visit......in the summer. LOL
Linda, you should do a post on it so many things from Texas. I love Margueritas !!
Leigh, I think mountains in N.C. isn't that funny ?
Al, I grew up in Paducah, graduated from U of K. Lived in Oxford, Miss, Auburn, AL.
Vanessa, you should come visit sometime. Do you still have family in Kalamazoo ? Me, I want to move to Tennessee.
Matthew, LOL not Southern Michigan ! We do get snow but not like Up North, enough to enjoy.
Fran, I do like Papa Joe, who wouldn't ???
Debbie, please post on it, I love to hear about other states. See Al's answer above. Crabs, huh ?? Love them.
Nancy, please research Georgia, that would be fun to hear. Didn't coke start in Atlanta?
Mike, awesome I didn't know about Lazy Boy, where did it start ? Thanks for contributing.
Gary, we'll I gave the Wolverines a whole post yesterday.
Teri, thanks made my day !! How sweet, thanks.
Charlie, you're a riot, that is one movie no one ever forgets, is it?
Joan, that's funny. I guess it's how thick our blood is how we handle the cold and heat. When we first moved here, our Realtor was apologizing for the hot weather. Moving from the South we thought she was kidding???
Eric, I bet there would be some good ones from Louisiana.
Michael, that's Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat !!
Lisa, the car parade is fun and awesome isn't it. Of course if you're thinking music, Madonna, Eminem, Kid Rock, Supremes, Jimmy Kemmel, Jeff Daniels. I think of more.
Lisa, LOL
Kris, you just proved my point about Vernors. Thanks.
Pat, oh you are good. So you like Vernors too, where did you learn to do that ?
Mana, your're too funny. And that is a great movie, isn't it??
Andrew, please do it, Cable TV? Well that has certaintly revolutionized our lives, hasn't it ?
Jeantet, great point about marketing your area, with things people don't know about.
Barbara, thanks for stopping by. Michigan summers are wonderful and Lake Michigan is fun to spend time on.
Jason, I learned alot too.
Lola, So many are from Grand Rapids, aren't they ?
I would have responded just like TLW.....cold and snow. Michigan has produced some pretty handy products. My Grannie was an avid seamstress and I remember seeing Simplicity patterns at her house. Must admit there were a couple of products I am not familiar with.
A lot of people will certainly be enjoying Michigan's Butterball next week!
Missy...
I was actually a little surprised when you came back and told me how mild the weather is in Ann Arbor.
Some of Blog Boy's family is in Iron Mountain. So naturally...I think cold when I think Michigan.
Thanks for setting me straight and thank you for sharing what does come out of Michigan :)
P.S. Did you know that in Florida some people stuff their Turkey with oranges?...I kid you not :)
TLW...ROAR!
Hi Missy
I truly enjoyed this post. I bet you learned some things about Michigan that even YOU didn't know!
Diane, great do you still sew? I use to make curtains when I was first married. But, that's about it.
Sandi, what do you call it in California?
Cynthia, thanks for stopping by, I imagine you're right I grew up eating only butterball turkey and had no clue the company was started here. I do think they have other area's in the country they manufacture or grow them in now.
TLW, Iron Mountain is WAY up there, I have never been in the UP myself. But, yea they get a ton of snow and it lasts for a long time.
Nicki, I really did, thanks for stopping by and adding me. :)
Missy,
You forgot to add: Home of Missy Caulk, one of of the TOP 12 FEMALE BLOGGERS, right?
Ann, I didn't know that you were originally from the South. Did you tell me and I forgot? Yea, diet coke is my favorite after ice tea.
Lynda, you are sweet thanks for stopping by.
Missy.... I have to come back to this later, but this was very interesting. Thanks for sharing this.... I enjoyed this.
I could say brats in Wisconsin, Kentucky Whiskey & Bourbon from Ky..... NJ? hhhmmmm.... extremely high property taxes? lol
Missy, I hope Maureen does a blog about Ohio ... she's good at researching all that stuff. The first thing that comes to mind is that a lot of Presidents came from Ohio. We have astronauts too - John Glenn & Neil Armstrong. Celebs are Bob Hope and I believe, Lucille Ball. Columbus is known to be the home of fast food start-ups - Wendy's, Arbys, White Castle. Our local scientific institute, Battelle, developed the Xerox machine. And White Castle's parent company, who molded the steel for their buildings, created the first steel Scotts spreader a long time ago. But I'll let Maureen finish the list.
You forgot the sand dunes in Michigan. How many states have actual dunes?
That comment above was from me ... I'm not signed in,
Elaine
Missy: What TLW didn't know about Michigan is that four of my grandkids call it home. That makes it tops in my book. All that other stuff is okay, too. LOL
Mike in Tucson
Bill, you're welcome.
Alecia, good and no I have heard of Oregon Chai? Is it a tea ?
Jeff, LOL
Mike, grandkids let me know when you visit. Where do they live?
Elaine, one more day !! Yes, the sand dunes are in Michigan but they are not man made but God made. LOL
Vanessa, do you know Jane Hale Roberts? She is a really close friend of mine. I do want to move to the Nashville area, but not sure when. Waiting til my daugher who is a buyer agent can sustain the business here and give me time to get started. But the way you are dominating Brentwood, Franklin I'll really have to start over.
WOW Missy,
This is impressive, I thought cold weather too, then again TLW and I are in south Florida...you had the Gerber baby??? and all the rest.... the Simplicity sewing patterns I used eons ago??? Amazing...
Elizabeth, thanks for stopping by and GBY too.
Kathy, when I think CA, I think great weather, high home prices and the Beach Boys.
Midori, and other Kellogg cereals too, that was just the first one.
Karen, maybe Michigan should do a better job of promoting more than cars??
Gary, hummm we need to do something to let people know what a great state it is. The automotive industry has overshadowed Michigan for too long.
Missy,
Oh so true! Kase is from one of the big 3 auto companies and we are so happy to be out of automotive. I believe Google is just the start of Silicon Valley in the Michigan.
Go Blue!! Watching the game from my warm family room!!
Missy
You did an incredible research, wish to read more, Thanks
Kmart started here.
And Carharrt is headquartered in Dearborn.
Quicken Loans
And we have the first stretch of paved road.
Ginger Ale - good.
Ginger Beer - not so much.
Fascinating and fun, Missy. Good to hear from you again!
Missy, Great Post!
There's a lot going on in Michigan. When the media talks about MI, they seem to be generally talking about metro Detroit only (and if it's about business, it's about the 'Big 3'). Here are a few more that spring to mind: Domino Pizza, Little Caesar's Pizza, Amway (now Alticor, soon to be Amway again), Steelcase.
Michigan is also the state that provides more BLUEBERRIES than any other state. It's not gloom and doom in Michigan. Thanks for helping to get the good word out! Happy Thanksgiving.
My fear is there is no definable line that separates who should receive bail out money and who should't. Where do we stop and who is left to determine if the funds are going where they should? The term bail out should not even be part of the vocabulary in a democratic society. My Active Rain blog post this morning morphed into a page long rant on what I would like to see happening to revive our economy. Click here