Article contributed by Paul Weiss, Liaison Manager, Food Export USA
In an increasingly interconnected world, the global potential for U.S. food and agricultural products is more promising than ever.
Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast envision a future where small- and medium-sized businesses in our regions thrive in the marketplace and are growing globally.
Food Export aims to maximize the success of U.S. suppliers through programs and services in three tracks: Exporter Education, Market Entry, and Market Promotion. These programs enable new and established suppliers to pursue international market opportunities and fuel long-term growth.
Table of Contents
Exporter Education: Build Your Expertise
The right education and preparation are essential for success in international trade. Food Export’s Exporter Education program is designed to enhance the expertise of U.S. suppliers, build their exporting readiness, and help produce greater results in the global marketplace.
Built for all experience levels, the Exporter Education track offers customized assistance, online learning, and hands-on training on the fundamentals of exporting.
This ranges from free webinars to tailored insights from Food Export’s export advisors, all designed to equip U.S. companies with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed abroad. These resources cover a wide array of topics, including export regulations, market entry strategies, and best practices for international marketing.
Regardless of where suppliers are on their exporting journey, Food Export helps businesses hone their export goals and navigate the complexities and market-specific regulations that come with international trade. By empowering businesses with the right tools and knowledge, Food Export helps them pave the way for their success abroad.
Market Entry: Unlock New Opportunities
Identifying and entering new international markets can be daunting. That’s where Food Export’s Market Entry services come into play. Focusing on exposure, consultations, and connections, they simplify the process of finding the right markets and reaching potential buyers. Events can be found here.
Key Offerings:
- Buyers Missions: Suppliers can meet pre-screened, qualified international buyers right here in the U.S. With more than 20 organized events annually, Buyers Missions are Food Export’s most popular in-person events because they are a low-cost way to explore new export markets.
- Focused Trade Missions: Experience total market immersion by traveling to international markets and meeting with key interested importers. There’s no better way to understand the local food industry landscape, assess the competition, and learn about the potential promotion of your products.
- Food Show PLUS!™: Food Show PLUS!™ enhances suppliers’ trade show experience with introductions to qualified buyers, in-market briefings, on-site assistance, self-guided retail tours, and post-show lead qualifications. Food Show PLUS!™ provides the right resources to help suppliers with targeted market knowledge and access to international buyers.
- Market Builder: Exporters looking to find new distributors or importers should take advantage of Market Builder. This one-of-a-kind program offers custom packages designed to each exporter’s needs and provides valuable expert feedback about their product’s potential in new international markets within all industry segments.
- Virtual Consultations: Virtual Consultations are an ideal tool to tap into the expertise of Food Export’s network of In-Market Representatives. These 30-minute one-on-one video consultations help U.S. suppliers explore questions related to export plans, market expansion, and in-market distribution.
- Trade Leads: Over 850 Midwest and Northeast companies are receiving qualified buyer leads for free. Your business can, too! Food Export’s network of In-Market Representatives and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) offices meet with qualified buyers throughout the year and provide leads to Food Export. Suppliers can upload their product information to receive 24/7 exposure to potential international buyers.
- U.S. Foodlink: Gain new international contacts and sales free of cost without travel or expenses. U.S. Foodlink is published bimonthly and distributed globally to the USDA FAS overseas offices, importers, and buyers. This feature is a complimentary opportunity to enhance U.S. suppliers’ international marketing efforts and product exposure.
Market Promotion: Double Your International Marketing Budget
Establishing a strong international presence is vital for long-term success for U.S. Exporters. Our Market Promotion track, the Branded Program, helps suppliers maximize their international marketing efforts.
The Branded Program helps new and seasoned exporters tap into funding provided by the USDA FAS for up to 50% reimbursement of approved international marketing and promotional activities.
Qualified companies can request reimbursement funding from $2,500 to $300,000 per year and can continue to apply for funding for existing and new export markets annually.
Your Connection to Growth
With the launch of the 2025 Program Year, Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are poised to help U.S. food and agricultural companies take their products to new heights in the global marketplace.
Through a combination of strategic events, anticipated expanded funding, and robust educational resources, Food Export is empowering U.S. companies to achieve exporting success.
U.S. companies interested in exporting their products can begin by exploring the extensive resources on Food Export’s website. Whether through participating in an event or taking advantage of educational resources, Food Export provides a comprehensive support system to help companies navigate the complexities of international trade.
Food Export also recently announced the release of a new Program Booklet, an extensive digital library of the services offered for each of their three Program tracks. Click here to access the booklet.
To learn more about becoming a supplier or registering for upcoming 2025 events, visit Food Export’s website or email info@foodexport.org.
