Largest Regional Food Show Calls on Western U.S. Fresh Produce Companies to Meet with International Buyers One-on-One
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA…July 15, 2016: The Fresno Food Expo, in cooperation with the California Center for International Trade Development (CITD) and the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA), will host international buyers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ecuador who will meet one-on-one with qualified fresh produce companies from the western U.S. on Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 1 – 5 p.m. With the goal to spur exporting in Central California and throughout the 13-state region, the Fresno Food Expo aims to meet international buyers’ needs who will come in search of quality, diverse fresh produce not readily available in their own countries.
In order for western U.S. fresh produce companies to participate in the one-on-one meetings, they must register by July 20, 2016 through WUSATA – a non-profit that works with the 13 western states and USDA to help agribusinesses export their goods overseas. For more information on registering with WUSATA, please visit https://www.wusata.org/event/calendar/. Additionally, western U.S. fresh produce companies who will be participating in the WUSATA event are invited to tour the Fresno Food Expo show floor during the business to business event.
“The novelty of an exclusively regional food show hosted in the undisputed food capital of the world – Central California – 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 not only Central California, but the entire western region’s food industry, the Fresno Food Expo, CITD and WUSATA have partnered once again to provide an unprecedented impact to an already successful economic development venture,” Amy Fuentes, Fresno Food Expo Manager.
Additionally, through the Fresno Food Expo’s established 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. International trade opportunities at the Fresno Food Expo have the potential to fuel even greater economic growth in Central California, especially the eight-county San Joaquin Valley – a vision shared by both the Fresno Food Expo and CITD.
“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 Central California companies, but the entire International marketplace. According to statistics presented today, less than one percent 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.
Since the launch of the Expo in 2011, buyer attendance has grown every year, with 917 buyers in attendance in 2015 and more than 950 expected this year. The increase in buyer attendance has resulted from those who travel from greater distances to see what the San Joaquin Valley, and Central California as a whole, has to offer. In 2015, international buyers from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Columbia, Costa Rica and Mexico came to discover the region’s diverse food industry showcased at the Fresno Food Expo as part of CITD’s organized buying mission.
The 2016 Fresno Food Expo will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2016, at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center, Hall I. There is a closed business-to-business trade show at 9 a.m. for qualified buyers and the international one-on-one meetings will be held from 1p.m. – 5 p.m. The public event, Expolicious, begins at 5 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. For more information on the Fresno Food Expo, please visit www.FresnoFoodExpo.com.
