Media & Press
NASDA'S USA PAVILION AT THE 11TH AMERICAS FOOD & BEVERAGE SHOW A SUCCESS
News Date October 20, 2008
The 11th America's Food & Beverage show--the only food trade event dedicated to trade within the Western Hemisphere--took place from September 24 to 26 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Featuring national pavilions from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Italy, Canada, and the United States, the event showcased hundreds of food products for food service and retail applications.
This year's show highlights included a new Florida pavilion, a reception that was hosted for FAS-sponsored buyers, a new products showcase, the annual chefs' competition, and the food & beverage awards ceremony which recognized exhibitors showing outstanding products. These highlighted events allowed industry leaders to explore new ideas on food preparation and display, and gave them the opportunity to preview items that consumers from their countries will want to see on the shelves of their grocery stores or on their plates at their favorite restaurants.
This one-of-a-kind food show generates a buzz among the industry because the region it covers boasts a selection of traditional commodities, along with fresh, new products that have recently emerged in the marketplace. The 5,868 attendees from 87 countries saw a wide range of products including baked goods, ethic foods, dairy products, meat, poultry and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, and organic and natural health foods.
In addition to the exhibits and new products displays, the Americas Food and Beverage show featured seminars and meetings about better servicing and packaging products, computer systems to track inventory and production, processing, warehousing, and other subjects affecting the food industry.
Sponsored by NASDA and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USA Pavilion exhibitors included the Illinois, Louisiana, Georgia, and Minnesota departments of agriculture, enterprise Florida, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA), and the U.S. Meat Export
The 2009 Americas Food & Beverage Show featuring the USA Pavilion will be held next November 9 to 10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This is a great opportunity for U.S. companies to explore and expand trade opportunities in the lucrative Caribbean, Central American, and South American markets. (Contact DeWitt Ashby or Megan McDonald)
BARGAIN-HUNTING BUYERS PREPARE TO DESCEND ON U.S.A. PAVILION
Published: July 28, 2008
Top-level food industry executives from throughout the Western Hemisphere are headed to Miami where their purchasing power will go farther than ever at the U.S.A. Pavilion a special feature of the 2008 Americas Food & Beverage Show and Conference. It all takes place September 24 to 26 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
An upside of the economic downturn in the U.S. is exports have never been hotter. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports that agricultural exports--including consumer-ready foods--reached a record-breaking $108.5 billion in the first half of the year, a fact that resonates with buyers and sellers.
"There are great opportunities for small- and mid-size food and beverage businesses that are willing to step outside their comfort zones and become part of the global supply chain," said DeWitt Ashby, director of the U.S.A Pavilion. "We're in a situation where the quality--and price--of U.S. food products is very attractive to middle class consumers in other nations. The good news is that American producers have the ability to fill that need."
The Miami Beach Convention Center will be a beehive of international activity with large delegations of executive-level buyers from Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and the Dominican Republic eager to connect with American manufacturers. The delegations include buyers representing the retail, wholesale, institutional food service, resort, and cruise line sectors of the industry.
An emphasis on developing the buyer/seller relationship is what sets the U.S.A. Pavilion apart from other food fairs and expositions. Through an innovative and effective marketing program, buyers and sellers will be "matched" based on their needs and have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one meetings with prospective trading partners.
The U.S.A. Pavilion is sponsored by NASDA as a way to help small- and mid-size food manufacturers build export markets for their products. NASDA's partner in the U.S.A. Pavilion is the FAS. Through its offices in U.S. embassies, FAS organizes delegations of qualified food buyers to attend the show.
"The U.S.A. Pavilion is the place where you can shake hands with the people behind the products," explains Ashby. "Personal relationships are paramount to success in international trade and the U.S.A. Pavilion is where trading partners can do business face-to-face."
Whether exhibitors are zeroing in on the growing market for frozen foods in Costa Rica, health foods in the Dominican Republic, or sparkling wines in Jamaica, they will be offering top-quality, all-American products at attractive prices.
The annual Americas Food & Beverage Show is sponsored by the World Trade Center Miami and this year is expected to showcase an estimated 5,000 products and draw an international audience of 4,500 buyers. (Contact: DeWitt Ashby or Megan McDonald)
IFE AMERICAS SHOW A SUCCESS!
News date: January 7, 2008
The Miami Beach Convention Center was thriving with trade and culture October 29 to 31, 2007, at the 10th IFE Americas Food & Beverage show as hundreds of buyers and suppliers came together to promote new food and beverage products and increase business deals through hands on, face-to-face promotion. Sponsored by the World Trade Center Miami and Montgomery International, the IFE Americas event is a unique mixing bowl for food trade in the Western hemisphere. The USA Pavilion at IFE Americas is sponsored by NASDA and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). While capitalizing on Miami's status as a regional trade hub and the center of the lucrative cruise business, the event also provides access to Caribbean, Central American, South American, Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. buyers.
"The show is a very good Latin American lead for us. It's very beneficial to our business and expanding our worldwide sales network. This is an excellent place to crack the barrier of international business without traveling to those [individual] countries." said Terry Jones of Jack Link's Beef Jerky in Wisconsin.
In addition to the USA pavilion, the IFE Americas event attracts exhibitors from 33 countries, and visitors from the entire Western hemisphere and as far away as China.
"We didn't know what to expect when we exhibited for the first time at the IFE Americas Show in November 2006. The show has translated into new sales and new distributors. The IFE Americas Show fits perfectly into our export marketing plan." said Courtenay Carr Russo with Tropical Delight Daiquiries, Inc.
The USA Pavilion at IFE Americas Food & Beverage Show continues to present exhibitors with new perspectives on the global marketplace and helps them gain valuable exposure to the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Canada, and Mexico. Exhibitors recruited to the USA pavilion by NASDA and individual state departments of agriculture benefit from a turn-key exhibitor package, pre-arranged meetings with buyers and a slate of educational programs.
The 11th IFE Americas Food & Beverage show will be held September 24 to 26, 2008, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. For more information please visit http://www.nasdatradeshows.org or http://www.nasda.org. (Contact: Megan McDonald or DeWitt Ashby)
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U.S. AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS EXPECTED TO REACH RECORD LEVELS
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2007 – Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced a record $79 billion forecast in FY 2007 agricultural exports. For fiscal year 2008, USDA forecasts exports to reach $83.5 billion with growth and new sales across all major agricultural product groups.
The forecasts eclipse the old record of $68.6 billion set last year.
"These export numbers, once again, demonstrate that U.S. agricultural products are in high demand around the world," said Johanns. "They also reflect tight world markets for grains and oilseeds. U.S. farmers are hard at work to supply these markets, both at home and abroad. In short, the world wants what we produce and at USDA we will continue to work aggressively to maintain and open markets for our farmers and ranchers."
Building on momentum from 2007, export gains in 2008 will be broad based with record sales for bulk grains, oilseeds, cotton, and high-value horticultural and livestock products.
According to USDA’s first forecast for fiscal year 2008, an expected record U.S. corn crop, strong foreign demand and reduced competition will boost U.S. corn exports $600 million. China’s demand for soybeans and cotton remains strong. Developments in the bio-diesel market will raise Europe’s demand for soybeans as well. Horticultural exports are anticipated to rise by $800 million, supported by strong foreign demand and a competitive dollar. Beef exports are expected to increase $400 million due to larger volume.
"Trade agreements are having a huge impact," said Johanns. "If Congress ratifies the recently signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, Panama and Peru, our producers will have increased access in some extremely important markets."
Imports for fiscal year 2008 are forecast at $75 billion, up $4.5 billion from the 2007 estimate, making for an $8.5 billion trade surplus in 2008. The largest import gains are forecast for fresh and processed fruits, coffee beans and other tropical products, bulk grains, and wines and beer.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service and the World Agricultural Outlook Board release agricultural trade forecasts quarterly. The summary and full report of USDA’s Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Exports may be accessed from the ERS Web site at http://www.ers.usda.gov or the FAS Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov. The next quarterly report will be issued in November 2007.
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Release No. 0233.07
FAS PR 0095-07
Contact: Keith Williams (202) 720-4623
Harold Kanarek (202) 720-0328
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