Buyers, sellers come together at U.S. Food Export Showcase

Last year, U.S. candy makers expressed considerable interest in selling their confections on the Japanese market.

But rather than traveling to Japan to demonstrate their products, U.S. manufacturers invited Japanese buyers here for meetings at the U.S. Food Export Showcase, one of the premiere conventions in the United States for food exporters.

The buyers met with the U.S. Chocolate Manufacturers Association and staff from USDA's Agricultural Trade Office in Tokyo at the Showcase, which is held every year in conjunction with the Food Marketing Institute's (FMI) International Supermarket Industry Convention and Educational Exposition in Chicago.

Sellers and buyers from all around the world will again have the opportunity to demonstrate and learn about U.S. food product exports during this year's Showcase which will be held in Chicago, May 7-10.

The Showcase is jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

"The strong worldwide growth in demand for high-value food products is creating unparalleled opportunities for U.S. food manufacturers," according to Suzanne Hale, Director of FAS' AgExport Services Division. "The Showcase is designed to help American producers and processors introduce their products to some of the world's most important food buyers."

For the third straight year, small- and mid-size companies will have the opportunity to display a wide array of high-value U.S. food products, covering every major product category and representing exhibitors from 43 states.

States with their own pavilions at this year's Showcase include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

More than 5,500 international buyers from 90 countries are expected to attend the 1995 Showcase.

According to an independent survey for NASDA, approximately $300 million in export sales were generated as a direct result of the 1993 show.

FAS Provides Vital Link

FAS attaches and trade officers overseas provide a vital link in recruiting international delegations to attend the Showcase and making sure these visitors have successful trips. FAS staff from 29 posts, covering 46 countries, accompanied foreign buyers during the 1994 Export Showcase.

The FAS attaches provide a number of services to the international visitors, including help with travel arrangements, liaisons with the FMI group assistance program, translation and Chicago-area tours.

For example, the Agricultural Trade Office in Seoul worked closely with the Korea Super Chainstore Association to bring 25 association members to Chicago.

The U.S. Embassy in Rabat invited the top six Moroccan food buyers to attend. FAS Brasilia worked closely with the Brazilian Supermarket Industry Association to bring a group of 174 top industry executives.

At the show, FAS personnel used their familiarity with both U.S. products and the foreign buyers to facilitate sales and marketing meetings.

For More Information

For more information about the U.S. Food Export Showcase coming up in May, contact:

U.S. Food Export Showcase Management 3918 Prosperity Avenue, #102 Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel. (703) 876-0900 Fax. (703) 876-0904

Dale Miller is with FAS' AgExport Services Division. Tel. (202) 690-0752. Fax. (202) 690-4374.

COPYRIGHT 1995 U.S. Department of Agriculture
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group