Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast’s mission has always been to help U.S. companies increase their export sales. One of the main ways we do that is by attending and hosting events around the globe. In this monthly blog we highlight everywhere we went and everything we did during September 2024!  

FTM to Canada for Retail and Foodservice 
Toronto, Canada 
September 4-5 

Food Export’s annual trade mission to Canada. This mission is an opportunity to learn about how differently Canada operates despite sharing a border with the U.S. Food Export’s long-time In-Market Representative to Canada, Kathy Boyce, makes sure to provide, not only great business contacts, but education on important market differences. The mission also included a briefing of the Canadian market by USDA FAS Toronto and a presentation from Source Nutraceutical, Inc., who shared their expertise on packaging and compliance in the region. 

This year, 15 U.S. suppliers had the opportunity to travel to Toronto, tour local retail stores, and meet one-on-one with Canadian buyers. 

Plant-Based Buyers Mission at the Plant-Based World Conference & Expo
New York, NY 
September 9-12 

This year Food Export hosted the Plant-Based Buyers Mission at the Plant-Based World Conference & Expo in heart of New York City. As is customary with our buyers missions, international buyers attended a retail where they got a taste of the local food scene and participated in one-on-one meetings with U.S. suppliers.

13 U.S. suppliers had the opportunity to meet with buyers from Chile, Colombia, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Seafood Trade Servicing Tour 
Portland, ME, Boston, MA and Providence, RI 
September 16-19 

Brendan Wilson, CEO/Executive Director, and Ben Cortese, International Marketing Program Manager, recently concluded a mission-focused journey through Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, driving impactful discussions around innovation and sustainability within the seafood industry. This initiative brought key industry leaders together to strengthen partnerships, enhance export opportunities, and champion the importance of sustainable practices, directly aligning with the goals of Food Export programs.

Accompanied by Colleen Coyne, Seafood Program Coordinator, and Massachusetts State Member Bonita Oehlke, the team engaged in valuable on-site visits, including a lobstering experience in Maine, where they explored firsthand the challenges and opportunities in sustainable fisheries. Key meetings with companies like Bristol Seafood, Island Creek Oysters, Eastern Fisheries, Inc. , and East Coast Seafood Group led to in-depth conversations on advancing packaging, labeling, and international market access.

The trip concluded in Rhode Island with insightful exchanges on seafood exports and fisheries management and a visit to The Town Dock, spotlighting the region’s contributions to sustainable seafood practices. We’re grateful to all of our partners and hosts for their collaboration in advancing these initiatives. Together, we’re building a more sustainable, globally competitive seafood industry.

NASDA Annual Meeting
Indianapolis, IN 
September 23-25 

Food Export’s leadership team, including CEO/Executive Director Brendan Wilson, Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Director-Midwest Michelle Rogowski, Chief Communications Officer/Deputy Director-Northeast Laura England, Chief Program & Partnership Officer Teresa Miller, and Chief Financial Officer Robert Lowe, CPA, attended the NASDA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event brought together state Departments of Agriculture for regional meetings, industry updates, and policy discussions under the theme “Cultivating Common Ground.”

We connected with our member states and agricultural organizations, held board meetings for both Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast, and participated in the Marketing & International Trade Committee meeting, focusing on international trade policies impacting U.S. food and agribusiness exporters.