Oklahoma Seminar
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
November 5
Food Export – Midwest and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry hosted a state seminar in Oklahoma City titled “The Best Ways to Get Started in Exporting”. There were five Oklahoma based suppliers who attended. Food Export Helpline Counselor Dennis Lynch presented about the difficulties of exporting and how suppliers can navigate them. Suppliers learned about HS codes, schedule B numbers, FAS, other marketing research resources, free trade agreements, export pricing and costs, freight do’s and don’ts, paperwork, and what to do when things go wrong.
The suppliers that attended also had the opportunity to hear a few company success stories of those who have gone before them. Food Export – Midwest Liaison Lauren Kliethermes attended the seminar along with our Oklahoma State Member Jamie Cummings.
Stay up to date on all of our upcoming seminars on our website.
Jamie Cummings, Market Development Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry at the registration table
Kelly Kemp from EXIM (Export-Import Bank of the United States) speaking about finances for exporting
Food Export Helpline Counselor Dennis Lynch speaking to the participating suppliers
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Lauren Klietheremes presenting about Food Export’s program and services
USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
November 6 – 8
Food Export – Northeast Acting Deputy Director Suzanne Milshaw traveled to Mexico City to participate in the USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Mexico. The mission included over 100 U.S. industry and government leaders including USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast had 10 participating suppliers.
The mission also included a fun NFL tailgate event to introduce healthy U.S. food products to Mexico while gearing up for the upcoming NFL game that was going to take place. The event successfully celebrated friendship, football, and food!
A look at the educational and market briefing part of the mission with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in attendance
USDA + NFL = Tailgate
A view of the USDA tailgate in Mexico City to promote the upcoming NFL game
Focused Trade Mission to Korea for New Lifestyle U.S. Food Products
Seoul, Korea
November 6 – 8
Our 2019 Focused Trade Mission to Korea for New Lifestyle U.S. Food Products took place this November in Seoul, South Korea with 17 participating U.S. suppliers. Initial reports show that the mission resulted in over 240 new supplier/buyer introductions, $2 Million+ in new export sales, and $20.8 Million in projected export sales.
In 2018 South Korea was ranked the #6 among U.S. agricultural export markets totaling $8.3 Billion. It is one of the most popular international markets that Food Export’s suppliers work with. Learn more about the possibilities in the market for U.S. suppliers in our South Korea Country Profile.
Interested in exploring the Korean market with Food Export? We have 2 trade missions headed to the market in 2020! Learn more on the Focused Trade Mission page of our website.
A video of what it’s like to be on a retail tour in a foreign market
Participating suppliers take place in a market briefing about Korea
Tom Mainzer, Agricultural Trade Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Femke Bosch, International Marketing Program Coordinator, and Kristie Park, Food Export In-Market Representative for Korea
Food Export signs in Korean
An inside look at one-on-one meetings between U.S. suppliers and local buyers
Colombia Importer Seminar
Bogota, Colombia
November 6
Food Export – Northeast Branded Program Manager Howard Gordon traveled to Bogota, Colombia to present at a Food Export Importer Seminar. There were over 24 local buyers/importers in attendance. The seminar was a great opportunity to educate them on our programs and services. And continue to promote U.S. food and ag products in the market.
Thanks to our recent funding from the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) we’ve had the opportunity to significantly increase the number of importer seminars we conduct around the world.
Food Export – Northeast Branded Program Manager Howard Gordon and others at the Colombian importer seminar
Food Export – Northeast Branded Program Manager Howard Gordon presenting about Food Export’s programs and services
View of the room with over 20 local buyers participating in the seminar
Canada Importer Seminar
Vancouver, Canada
November 7
Food Export – Midwest International Program Associate Erin Crowley traveled to Vancouver, Canada for an Importer Seminar. There were 26 industry professional/importers that attended the event. As always the seminar was a great opportunity to educate local industry professionals on our programs and services.
A recap video of Vancouver Importer Seminar made by Taste USA
Vancouver Views
Food Export – Midwest Program Associate Erin Crowley taking in the views of Vancouver
Grow-NY
Ithaca, New York
November 12 – 14
Food Export – Northeast International Marketing Program Coordinator Maddie Smith traveled to Rochester, New York to attend the Grow – NY Summit and Competition, a business competition focused on growing an enduring food and agriculture innovation cluster in the Grow-NY-region. The competition attracts innovative, high-growth food and agriculture startups from across the globe and engages them in the region’s rapidly-growing startup ecosystem.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Maddie had the opportunity to spend time learning about trends in the agricultural world and listening to the finalists of the competition pitch their ideas to the judges. It was a great opportunity to see the changes that these innovators are trying to bring to agriculture. Maddie also had the opportunity to walk around the expo hall to meet with several of the participating suppliers.
On Thursday Maddie and Tim McCall from the US Commercial Service were able to go out and visit four of our current participating suppliers to discuss their international marketing plans for 2020.
The opening session for the Grow NY event
A look at the show floor where companies exhibited their new ideas
Food Export – Northeast International Marketing Coordinator Maddie Smith who met with current Food Export – Northeast suppliers Backyard Brine on the show floor
Kosherfest
Secaucus, New Jersey
November 12 – 14
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Deborah Ingravallo traveled to the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey for the annual Kosherfest show. She walked the show floor to meet with current and potential suppliers and discuss Food Export’s program and services. It was a very well attended event with an ample amount of product to sample from meats and cheeses to cookies and ice cream.
Entrance to Kosherfest
Showfloor of Kosherfest
Private Label Buyers Mission at the PLMA Show
Rosemont, Illinois
November 17 – 20
Our annual Private Label Buyers Mission took place in the Chicago area the week before Thanksgiving. We had 34 U.S. suppliers participate in this year’s mission.
Initial results show 342 new supplier/buyer introductions, over $11 Million in new export sales and $5.6 Million in projected export sales.
Private Label is a huge market segment focus for many of the U.S. suppliers that utilize our programs and services. We have several Market Entry Activities that are specific to the Private Label industry for 2020, find out more about our Market Entry Activities on our website.
PLMA 2019 promotional poster
Deborah Ingravallo, Food Export – Northeast Liaison, Wendi Howell, Ohio Development Services Agency Export Program Manager, and Maureen Coughlin, Food Export contractor
Group photo of participating international buyers and Food Export staff
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Paul Sorenson and International Marketing Associate Calleigh O’Connor working the registration table at the PLMA Buyers Mission
One-on-one meetings taking place between U.S. suppliers and international buyers
One-on-one meetings continued
Group dinner with participating international buyers
USAEDC Annual Workshop
Baltimore, Maryland
November 18 – 20
Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast staff members attended the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) Annual Workshop that took place in Baltimore, Maryland. This annual event is always a valuable experience for our staff members to stay up to date with what is going on in the food and agriculture industries, network with other Market Access Program cooperators, and attend educational seminars.
Food Export-Northeast Acting Deputy Director Suzanne Milshaw and Food Export-Midwest International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Brendan Wilson were both featured speakers on breakout panels during the event.
USAEDC Annual Workshop Session
Under Secretary Ted McKinney giving remarks at the 2019 USAEDC Annual Workshop
A breakout session during the annual workshop
Food Export – Midwest International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Brendan Wilson presenting about Food Export’s ATP initiatives
Food Show PLUS! at Saudi Horeca 2019
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
November 25 – 28
This year Food Export participated in the first USA Pavilion in Saudi Arabia at the Saudi HORECA show. Saudi Arabia is our largest and fastest growing market in the Middle East. The USA Pavilion had 11 exhibitors in 16 booths. Exhibitors were very happy to participate in the first USA Pavilion as everyone was well-aware of the potential that Saudi Arabia has for U.S. products.
We had 2 U.S. suppliers that exhibited at the show and utilized the Food Show PLUS! program. Initial reports show that the 2 participants met with over 65 new contacts at the show, gained new export sales of $1,000,000 and projected export sales of $4,000,000 over the next 12 months. Learn more about the potential of the Saudi Arabian market for U.S. suppliers in our online Saudi Arabia Country Profile.
Food Export’s booth at the Saudi Horeca show with our In-Market Representatives for the Middle East
One of our participating U.S. suppliers talking to local buyers
COMING UP IN DECEMBER
Toronto, Canada Importer Seminar – December 2
Ohio Seminar “Increase Export Success!”– December 2
Ecuador Importer Seminar – December 3
Minnesota Seminar “Understanding the Canadian Food Regulatory Framework” – December 3
U.S. CrushCon Conference – December 4 – 5
Focused Trade Mission to Dubai – December 4 – 6