Food Export – Midwest, Chicago Office
February 5 – 6
Megan McDonald, Blake Ramsey, and Alex Noffsinger from The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) visited the Food Export-Midwest office in Chicago February 5 – 6, to discuss ideas for our organizations to work together in future efforts of promoting U.S food and ag products around the world. A few of the staff from Food Export-Northeast joined the conversation via teleconference!
From left to Right: Blake Ramsey, Teresa Miller, Megan McDonald, Suzanne Milshaw (on screen), Joshua Dillard (on screen), Alex Noffsinger, and Michelle Rogowski
Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission at IPPE
Atlanta, Georgia
February 12 – 14
Food Export held our annual Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission at the 2019 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta on Wednesday, February 13th.
IPPE is “the world’s largest annual poultry, meat and feed industry event of its kind. A wide range of international decision makers attend this annual event to network and become informed on the latest technological developments and issues facing the industry.” Participants had the chance to meet and network with over 8,000 visitors from 130+ countries.
18 U.S. companies from the animal feed industry met with 8 sponsored buyers from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Thanks to Food Export’s partnership with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and help from the Missouri Department of Agriculture we saw a record number of participating buyers and suppliers.
Attendees reported over $10 million in export sales as a result of the activity.
Food Export-Midwest and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)’s Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission sign
SCD Probiotics were one of our participating suppliers at the Buyers Mission
Am Pharma was another participating supplier
Food Export-Midwest International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Brendan Wilson and Liaison Enrique Rubio at the Food Export booth on the show floor
Food Export-Midwest Liaison Enrique made a new friend while at the show!
Food Show PLUS! at Gulfood
Dubai, UAE
February 17 – 21
Gulfood took place at the Dubai World Trade Center from February 17 – 21 in the United Arab Emirates. Gulfood is the world’s largest annual food & beverage trade exhibition spanning 1,000,000+ square feet of show floor and welcoming 98,000+ attendees from 193 countries around the world.
Food Export-Northeast International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Andrew Haught and Food Export In-Market Representative Hovig Kizirian were in attendance at the show to help administer our Food Show PLUS! services to participating suppliers.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Ken Isley was in attendance at the show.
If you missed the event take a look at this great recap video!
Dubai skyline
USA Pavilion Lounge at Gulfood
Food Export-Northeast International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Andrew Haught and Food Export In-Market Representative for the Middle East, Hovig Kizirian, have a meeting in the Food Export booth
Agri-Mark was one of the Food Export suppliers exhibiting their Products of the USA at the show
IMR Hovig Kizirian meeting with Food Export-Northeast suppliers Coney Island Classics
IMR Hovig Kizirian meeting with a Food Export supplier to go over the leads they had obtained at the show. This is one of the best features of our Food Show PLUS! services!
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Ken Isley with a few Food Export staff, state members, and friends!
MIO Global Expo and Oklahoma State Visit
Oklahoma
February 19 – 21
Food Export-Midwest Liaison Enrique Rubio visited the Made In Oklahoma (MIO) Expo in Goldsby, Oklahoma and conducted company visits throughout the state with our state member Jamie Cummings the International Trade Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry.
The MIO Expo is a part of the MIO Coalition whose mission is “to promote brand awareness and consumer loyalty for Oklahoma food and agricultural products through collective marketing for the purpose of increasing sales, maintaining business retention and expanding Oklahoma’s food processing sector.” One of the speakers at the expo was Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, who Jamie and Enrique had the opportunity to meet briefly.
While in Oklahoma, Enrique and Jamie travelled to several Food Export-Midwest suppliers headquarters. During the visits they had the opportunity to tour their facilities and discuss their current and future export strategies. State visits are one of the ways that we continue to build relationships with our suppliers in the Midwest and Northeast regions. It’s a great opportunity for our Liaisons to meet with suppliers face to face on their home turf. To better understand their business, products, and unique company dynamics to be able to help them customize their export strategy to fit their unique needs.
Food Export-Midwest Liaison Enrique and Oklahoma State Member Jamie meeting with Oklahoma businesses at the MIO Expo
Lt Gov Pinnell presenting at the MIO Expo
Oklahoma State Member Jamie (left), and Food Export-Midwest Liaison Enrique (right) meet with the Lt. Governor of Oklahoma Matt Pinnell (center).
Jamie and Enrique on a company visit with KiZE Concepts.
Jamie and Enrique visiting Mountain View Meat Company, another Oklahoma supplier.
Enrique getting a tour of the facility.
Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON
San Diego, California
February 23 – 25
Food Export – Northeast coordinated our annual Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-Con in San Diego from February 23 – 24 with the American Frozen Food Institute. International buyers from 11 different markets all over the world traveled to sunny Southern California to meet with over 20 suppliers! Food Export – Northeast Liaison Madison Smith travelled to the mission to help coordinate and network with our existing and potential suppliers in the Frozen Food industry.
While in California for this Buyers Mission, our international buyers went on a Retail Tour that included traditional U.S. grocery stores as well as a cold warehousing facility. The stops included:
Whole Foods – While here, the manager of the store gave an overview of the frozen market and the trends he has been seeing in his store. The Buyers also had time to experience a healthy, American style lunch at the store.
Costco – The Buyers had the opportunity to see a big box store and compare it to the Costco’s in their own countries. Many of them even had membership cards.
Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises (ICE) – We were able to visit both facilities that ICE operates. One was a state of the art warehouse that has been upgraded and is extremely sustainable. Some of the features include using recycled rain water and condensation, and having LED lightbulbs that are motion censored.
Sign in and registration table for the Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON
Buyer Meetings in process
Retail Tour for Frozen Food Buyers of ICE – Innovative Cold Enterprises
Retail Tour continued
Group Photo of Food Export staff, Activity Coordinator, and Buyers
Food Show PLUS! at CHFA West
Vancouver, Canada
February 21 – 24
The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) West show took place from February 23 – 24 in Vancouver, Canada. Food Export had their Food Show PLUS!™ services available for exhibitors at the show, and our state member Lauren Masseria, from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets was in attendance at the show to help manage the Food Show PLUS!™ services alongside our In-Market Representative for Canada, Kathy Boyce.
IMR Kathy Boyce of Canada, and Vermont State Member Lauren Masseria leading the Retail Tour at CHFA West
NASDA Winter Policy Conference – NE & MW Board Meetings
Arlington, VA
February 25 – 27
The NASDA Winter Policy Conference took place in Arlington, Virginia from February 25 – 27. Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director, Tim Hamilton, and respective Deputy Directors, Michelle Rogowski and Joshua Dillard attended the conference.
The conference’s theme was “Elevate Ag, Accelerate Food”. From cell based proteins to collaboration between the FDA and USDA to keep our food supplies safe, to policy in agriculture trade, the program covered a wide array of subjects important to farmers, food processors, and consumers around the world. One of the highlights of the conference was a great session on women in agriculture. It demonstrated the variety of Ag related businesses that are led by women, and how they are changing the face of agriculture.
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Board Meetings took place concurrently with the conference.
NASDA Winter Policy Conference
Presentation on Women in AG
COMING UP IN MARCH
Food Show PLUS!™ at FOODEX Japan – March 2 – 8
Food Show PLUS!™ at ExpoANTAD & Alimentaria – March 4 – 7
Natural Products Buyers Mission at Natural Products Expo West – March 5 – 7
Midwest Foodservice Expo – March 11-13
Focused Trade Mission to Taiwan for Retail Products – March 11-12
SRTG Meeting – March 12 – 13
Food Show PLUS!™ at VIV Asia – March 12 – 15
Seafood Buyers Mission at 2019 Seafood North America – March 17 – 19
Pet Food Buyers Mission at the 2019 Global Pet Expo – March 20 – 22
AURI Conference – Minnesota – March 27 – 28
FAS Regional Meeting for South America – Mar 27 – 29