2008 PRESS RELEASES
May 28, 2008
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES INVITES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOWS
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The global export market is expanding dramatically, and many Virginia companies are marketing their agricultural products overseas. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) offers producers opportunities to export their products around the world through partnership with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA). Upcoming trade shows include:
- HACE EGYPT 2008, Cairo, November 10 – 13, 2008 – Egypt has a population of nearly 75 million with an annual growth of two percent. Changing demographics have created a switch in buying patterns in the main cities from small, local markets to supermarkets and hypermarkets, which provides opportunities for imported food products in retail outlets, fast food chains, hotels and restaurants. In 2005, total U.S. exports of consumer products to Egypt were $85.2 million, a 75 percent increase from the previous year.
- Participation fee: none
- Companies that cannot attend may send product samples for display at the show with free shipping of up to 25 pounds.
- Featured products: fruits and vegetables, snack foods, nuts, seafood, juices, condiments, meats and confections
- An on-site chef will prepared product samples at the show.
- Registration deadline: July 15, 2008; deadline for product shipment: October 1, 2008
- Interfood and Drink Bulgaria, Sofia, November 19 – 22, 2008 – In Eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania are the top importers of U.S. agricultural products. In 2005, U.S. agricultural exports to the region valued at $231.3 million. Consumers are increasingly demanding foods that are convenient and easily prepared, with frozen foods, dried products, soups and other prepared food growing in popularity.
- Participation fee: $75, which includes half of a 12 square-meter booth space with interview table, exhibition table, listing in catalog, signage and electricity
- Travel and accommodations: responsibility of company, but MAP Branded participants are eligible for up to 50 percent reimbursement
- Up to 100 pounds of product samples shipped to the show if attending
- Fee for product display if not attending show: $100 per company
- Featured products: frozen foods, confections, canned fruits and vegetables, meats, nuts, fruit/tea drinks, snack foods, soups
- Participants must ship products to a U.S. consolidation point
- Registration deadline: August 15, 2008
Producers interested in taking advantage of either of these opportunities to introduce their products to importers and key buyers in Egypt or Bulgaria should contact Keith Long in VDACS’ Office of International Marketing. Call 804/371-8990 or e-mail keith.long@vdacs.virginia.gov. For information on additional domestic and international trade events, go to the VDACS Web site at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/t-events.shtml.