National Association of Convenience Stores Show
Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission
USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Vietnam
Food Export Member State Marketing Meeting
Focused Trade Mission to Panama
Food Show PLUS! at 2019 China Fisheries Show
New England
September 30 – October 2
Food Export – Northeast held our first ever Inbound Shellfish Mission to New England in October with stops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Sponsored buyers from a variety of countries and markets travelled to the U.S. to visit the market in person and learn more about the U.S. shellfish industry in preparation for the reopening of shellfish trade between the U.S. and EU.
The multiple day event included market overviews, oyster farm tours, boat tours, processing facility tours, oyster tastings, and much more! The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and Rhode Island Commerce Corporation were all instrumental in the planning and successful execution of the mission.
This mission was made possible by our recent funding through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) aimed at diversifying export market opportunities for U.S. suppliers hit hard by recent trade and tariff issues.
International buyers receiving a market overview of U.S. shellfish
Touring an oyster farm
Learning about oyster production methods
Seeing an oyster hatchery up close
Baby oysters in the oyster hatchery
Boat tour of an offshore oyster farm
Floating oyster beds
Drudging for oysters
Group photo of Food Export staff, In-Market Reps, and International Buyers
National Association of Convenience Stores
Atlanta, Georgia
October 1 – 3
The National Association of Convenience Stores Show took place in Atlanta at the beginning of October. One of our Food Export – Midwest liaison attended the show and walked the floor to connect with current and prospective suppliers.
NACS SHOW 2019 Entrance
NACS sign
Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission
2019 World Dairy Expo
Madison, Wisconsin
October 2 – 3
The World Dairy Expo took place in Madison, Wisconsin at the beginning of October. Food Export – Midwest hosted our annual Value-Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission in conjunction with the show. We had buyers from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, and the U.A.E. travel to Wisconsin to meet one-on-one with 19 U.S. suppliers. The participating international buyers also had the opportunity to go on a farm tour at Larson Acres Farm in Evansville, Wisconsin.
Initial reports show that the event resulted in $638,000 in actual export sales, with $10,705,000 in projected export sales for U.S. feed suppliers. This is a critical annual event for our feed ingredients suppliers, allowing them the opportunity to expand their international sales without ever leaving the country.
Food Export – Midwest Program Associate Erin with 2 international buyers
International buyers posing in front of the Wisconsin State Capital
Staff and international buyers at a hosted dinner
Tour of Larson Acres Farms
Wouldn’t be the World Dairy Expo if we didn’t include a photo of some cows
Food Show PLUS! at Anuga
Cologne, Germany
October 4 – 9
The 2019 Anuga show was extra special this year as it celebrated the show’s 100th anniversary. Anuga is a unique international trade show as it houses 10 different trade shows under one roof. This allows a unique platform of opportunities for exhibitors and visitors as each trade show is dedicated to one of the most significant segments of the food and beverage industry.
Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton attended the show along with Commissioner John Lebeaux from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. FAS Administrator Ken Isley also attended the show and helped open the USA Pavilion.
Several other Food Export state members and staff were also on-site to help facilitate our Food Show PLUS! tradeshow enhancement services utilized by 19 U.S. suppliers. From booth interpreters to one-on-one meetings, follow up lead qualification, and more the advantages of using our Food Show PLUS! program are numerous!
When not on the show floor, our staff and participating suppliers had the opportunity to visit and tour a few local stores and farms to learn more about the local food and ag industries. Their stops included Otto Schmitz-Hubsch, an apple farm, processing facility, and store, Biohof Bursch, an organic farm, Grafschafter Krautfabrik, a sugar beet plant, and Campus Klein-Altendorf a research farm.
Read the Final Report of Anuga 2019 “100 years of concentrated food competence: Anuga breaks all records”.
Food Export-Midwest & Food Export-Northeast Executive Director, Tim Hamilton, with Charge d’Affaires, Robin Quinville, FAS Administrator, Ken Isley, and Commissioner John Lebeaux from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Marketing Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Emily Jerve, Food Export In-Market Representative for Europe, Jens Hombeck, and Food Export-Midwest International Marketing Program Senior Coordinator Brendan Wilson
Group visiting Otto Schmitz-Hubsch, an apple farm, processing facility, and store
Touring the farm
Group photos in front of the Otto Schmitz-Hubsch store
Nourished Festival
Secaucus, New Jersey
October 5 – 6
Food Export-Northeast Liaison Deborah Ingravallo attended the Nourished Festival, the largest Gluten Free, Allergy, & Specialty Diet Festival in the U.S. The Nourished Festival travels to 9 cities in the U.S. every year and allows visitors to attend educational classes, sample new products, meet brand ambassadors, and more! The show is open to the public and is extremely well attended because of the ever-growing gluten free, allergy, and specialty diet sector.
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Deborah Ingravallo at the Nourished Festival
Importer Seminar – Mexico
Monterrey, Mexico
October 8 – 9
Food Export – Midwest International Marketing Coordinator Femke Bosch traveled to Monterrey, Mexico to speak at an Importer Seminar with the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council and the National Sunflower Association. Femke presented Food Export’s program and services to help educate local Mexican buyers about the opportunities for U.S. products in their markets. Among the many guest speakers at the seminar, Food Export sponsored Kantha Shelke, a Food Scientist, to speak about the trends and innovations in plant-based products.
The Cerro de la Silla volcano outside of Monterrey
Local Mexican buyers attending the Importer Seminar
Food Scientist Kantha Shelke, Food Export-Midwest International Marketing Program Coordinator Femke Bosch, and Food Export In Market Representative Raul Caballero
Importer Seminar – Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
October 10 – 11
Food Export – Midwest Strategic Partnerships Manager Teresa Miller traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a Food Export Importer Seminar. Bill Verzani, the FAS Attaché for Malaysia, attended the seminar and delivered the welcoming remarks. Over 40 different companies and 55 total guests attended the seminar.
Food Export Importer Seminars are made possible by our recent funding through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) aimed at diversifying export market opportunities for U.S. suppliers hit hard by recent trade and tariff issues.
A view of the packed room of 55+ local buyers attending the seminar
Teresa in front of the Petronas Towers a landmark in Kuala Lumpur
USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
October 14 – 17
After the Importer Seminar in Malaysia, Teresa traveled to Vietnam to participate in the USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission led by USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. The mission took place in one of Vietnam’s biggest markets, Ho Chi Minh City, and included buyers from Thailand and Burma.
Trade Missions are an incredible opportunity for U.S. suppliers to explore a new market in person and meet one-on-one with new potential buyers. See what Food Export Trade Missions in 2020 are open for registration here.
View of Ho Chi Minh City
Group photo of the USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Vietnam
Food Export – Midwest Strategic Partnerships Manager Teresa Miller meets with local industry professionals about Food Export’s programs and services
Teresa Miller with a local importer of feed ingredients
Kansas Company Visits
Kansas
October 15 – 16
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Paul Sorenson traveled to Kansas for an outreach trip across the state with the Kansas Department of Agriculture. They met with a variety of From the Land of Kansas members to talk about international marketing plans for the upcoming 2020 program year as well as Food Export’s programs and service.
3 days
1,251 miles traveled
30 Kansas counties
10 suppliers and 1 service provider visited
Infographic courtesy of the Kansas Department of Agriculture
Food Export-Midwest Liaison Paul Sorenson and Kansas Department of Agriculture International Trade Director Suzanne Ryan-Numrich visiting the offices of Safely Delicious
Paul and Suzanne visiting another Kansas based supplier
Visiting Monument Rocks in Gove County, Kansas
Food Export Member State Marketing Meeting
Chicago, Illinois
October 22 – 24
The annual Food Export Member State Marketing Meeting took place in Chicago, Illinois at the St. Jane Hotel from October 22 – 24. Our annual meeting is a unique opportunity for both Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast state members to come together to connect on a variety of topics and issues relating to ag and food production at the state level.
In addition to our internal program, state, and In-Market Representative updates, we had several outside speakers attend the meeting.
Don Washington, Marketing Specialist, & Mark Slupek, Deputy Administrator from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Trade Programs
Brenna Nugent, Marketing Manager from Graceland Fruit
Kirk Samson, Owner, of Samson Atlantic
Max Moncaster, Associate Director, Public Policy, NASDA
Elizabeth Grace Saunders, Real Life E® Time Coaching
At the meeting we celebrated Food Export-Midwest’s upcoming 50th Anniversary with fun throwback photos and an evening reception.
Food Export-Midwest & Food Export-Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton giving opening remarks
FAS Marketing Specialist Don Washington giving an update from the podium
Food Export In-Market Representative from Vietnam giving a market update
Food Export In-Market Representatives from the Middle East, Vietnam, and Indonesia giving market updates
Food Export-Midwest & Food Export-Northeast Communications Manager Greg Cohen addressing the crowd
Food Export – Northeast Acting Deputy Director Suzanne Milshaw
Food Export In Market Representative for the Caribbean Pamela Wells Russell
Agricultural Marketing and Inspection Rep for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture Erin Windham
International Marketing Representative for the Illinois Department of Agriculture Kim Hamilton
Food Export – Midwest International Marketing Program Coordinator Femke Bosch
Associate Director of Public Policy at NASDA, Max Moncaster with Executive Director Tim Hamilton
Group photo of Food Export staff, state members, contractors, etc
Focused Trade Mission to Panama
Panama City, Panama
October 29 – 30
Food Export held our first Focused Trade Mission to Panama since 2016 this October. We had 10 U.S. suppliers participate in the mission from the Northeast and Midwest.
Suppliers participated in a market overview, retail tours, one-on-one meetings with local buyers and a networking reception. Initial reports show over $2,250,000 in projected sales as a result of the mission.
Panama has always been an important market because of its connection to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and shipping routes. In recent years it has also become a vital air and international products’ distribution hub for Central and South American markets.
Panama skyline
On the way to the retail tour
Retail tour
Retail tour continued
Panama canal
Networking reception for U.S. suppliers and local buyers
Food Show PLUS! at 2019 China Fisheries Show
Qingdao, China
October 30 – November 1
Food Export-Northeast had Food Show PLUS!™ services available for U.S. suppliers at the 2019 China Fisheries Show in Qingdao. We had 5 U.S. suppliers participate in our Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services, and initial reports show $5,000,000 in actual export sales and $5,000,000 in projected export sales.
International Trade Specialist at the Maine International Trade Center Jeff Bennett with U.S. supplier, Lobster Trap, at their booth on the show floor
Sea Fresh U.S.A. booth on the show floor
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER
Oklahoma Seminar – November 5
USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Mexico – November 6 – 8
Focused Trade Mission to Korea for New Lifestyle US Food Products – November 6 – 7
Colombia Importer Seminar – November 6
Canada Importer Seminar – November 7
New York State Liaison Visit – November 11 – 14
Kosherfest – November 12 – 14
Private Label Buyers Mission at the PLMA Show – November 17 – 18
Food Show PLUS! at Food & Hotel China – November 17 – 20
USAEDC Annual Workshop – November 18 – 21