Fresno Food Expo and Center for International Trade Development Aid Valley Companies in Making Tangible Connections to Increase California’s $26.1 Billion in Exports through an Interactive Forum

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA…May 15, 2014: San Joaquin Valley Food and Beverage Producers, Growers and Manufacturers gathered at Fresno City Hall Chambers Thursday, May 15 along with Fresno Food Expo organizers and the California Center for International Trade Development (CITD) during an interactive export forum featuring Federal, State and local partners who offered new regionally-specific data, discussed current International market trends and provided valuable resources to expand export opportunities with emerging global markets in preparation for the 2014 Fresno Food Expo presented by Union Bank.

Approximately 47 representatives from companies throughout the San Joaquin Valley attended the forum to hear from Christian Foster, Deputy Administrator of the USDA Foreign Ag Service; Josh Eddy, Executive Director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Alicia Rios, Director of the California Center for International Trade Development; and Dennis Lynch, Food Export Counselor for the California Center for International Trade Development.

Following the seminar, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Dr. Bill Stewart, Chancellor of State Center Community College District, held an intimate lunch with attending companies, Fresno City Councilmembers and the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees to further discuss how International trade opportunities at the Fresno Food Expo have the potential to fuel even greater economic growth in the San Joaquin Valley – a vision shared by both the Fresno Food Expo and CITD. Concluding the day’s events; Fresno City Council President Steve Brandau from District Two, presented CITD and State Center Community College District with a proclamation recognizing the importance of International trade for the San Joaquin Valley.

“The novelty of an exclusively regional food show hosted in the undisputed food capital of the world – the San Joaquin Valley – has afforded the Fresno Food Expo International attention from buyers around the world because of the integral role the region plays in the global food supply chain. In an effort to further aid individual business growth and economic development for the San Joaquin Valley food and beverage industry, the Fresno Food Expo and CITD have partnered once again to provide an unprecedented impact to an already successful economic development venture,” stated Mayor Ashley Swearengin, City of Fresno.

This year, CITD will be bringing qualified international buyers from China, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada to the Fresno Food Expo on July 24 in search of quality, diverse and innovative food products – helping to change the economic climate for the region.

“The California Center for International Trade Development is focused on guiding local food and beverage producers, growers and manufacturers for success in the International market by providing the resources needed to foster strong relationships between foreign buyers and local food producers to benefit not only San Joaquin Valley companies, but the entire International marketplace. According to statistics presented today, less than 1% of United States’ companies are currently exporting and 58% of those companies are only exporting to one country – something we seek to change,” said Alicia Rios, Director, California Center for International Trade Development.

California led the nation in agricultural exporting in 2013, totaling $26.1 billion, an increase of 14% over 2012 according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agricultural Trade System database. Through the first quarter of 2014, California’s agricultural exporting has already increased by 8% to nearly $6.4 billion, projecting 2014 to be another record year for California’s food and agricultural industry. With 95% of the World’s consumers outside the United States’ borders, the Valley food industry has an opportunity to potentially increase their annual sales by 30-50% through exporting, according to export sales numbers tracked by CITD clients. CITD has successfully helped thousands of companies grow their business by getting their products into foreign markets by saving time and cost through streamlined processes.

Since the launch of the Expo in 2011, buyer attendance has grown every year, with 630 buyers in attendance in 2013. The increase in buyer attendance has resulted in attracting buyers who travel from greater distances to see what the San Joaquin Valley has to offer. In 2013, International buyers from Canada, Pacific Rim, Mexico and Colombia came to discover the region’s diverse food industry showcased at the Fresno Food Expo as part of CITD’s first organized buying mission tied to a regional food show.

Solely showcasing food producing companies located within California’s 8-county San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno Food Expo provides buyers the unique experience to not only see the breadth of food producers in the region, but to have the opportunity to go on grower and manufacturer site tours where they will get the full experience of fresh grower operations, small and large manufacturing facilities and the vast agricultural land that surrounds the region. Through the Fresno Food Expo’s partnership with CITD, businesses also have the resources needed to take the next step in exporting from consultation and export training to buying missions and one-on-one matchmaking.

From small start-ups to the large, well-established companies, the Fresno Food Expo provides a platform for these Valley-based food producers to network, share industry relationships, create new business contacts and increase their exposure to broaden sales opportunities.

Food and beverage companies located within the 8-county San Joaquin Valley region can still sign up as an exhibitor for the 2014 Fresno Food Expo at http://FresnoFoodExpo.com/registration/exhibitor-registration.

The 2014 Fresno Food Expo will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014, at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center New Exhibit Hall. There is a closed business-to-business portion from starting at 9 a.m. and a public event in the evening from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. For more information on the Fresno Food Expo, please visit www.FresnoFoodExpo.com.

The 2014 Fresno Food Expo is made possible in part by the support of the following well-known Valley businesses that have signed on as sponsors in support of the regional food show and its mission:

Major Sponsors:

· Baker Peterson Franklin, CPA, LLP

· Lyons

· Busseto Foods

· Mid Valley Disposal

· California Center for International Trade Development

· The Produce News

· Certified Meat Products

· State Center Community College District

· City of Fresno

· Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company

· ENZO Olive Oil Company

· Union Bank

· Fowler Packing Company

· United States Cold Storage

· Gerawan Farming Prima® Brand

· Wawona Frozen Foods

· Johanson Transportation Service

· Wells Fargo

· KMJ Newstalk 580