Food Export Association of the Midwest USA
Greater Ozark Trade Association

Why Export?/Benefits of Exporting
• Increase sales and income
- 95% of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S.
- Only 1% of small businesses export, and more than
half only export to only 1 country
• Diversify market risk and offset lags in domestic demand
- Sluggish sales at home/booming sales abroad
• Overseas markets continue to open - Recent FTA’s
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US manufacturers have a competitive advantage
- Quality, Safety, Consistency
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Ozark Trade Association
Why Export?/Benefits of Exporting
• Extend product life cycles by exploring various
markets for products
- Find new uses for products
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Use idle capacity and reduce unit costs
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Overseas markets are growing
- Increasing middle class
- Shifting economies
Greater

Ozark Trade Association
Why Export?/Benefits of Exporting
• Overseas markets continue to open
- Markets are more accepting
- Developing tastes for different products,
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US manufacturers have a competitive advantage
- Highly advanced agricultural system, food
producing, manufacturing and processing
Greater

Ozark Trade Association
Who is Food Export-Midwest?
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Private, non-profit international trade organization
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Our Members are State Agricultural Promotion Agencies
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Our board is comprised of member state Secretaries, Directors
and Commissioners of Agriculture
Work with mostly smaller and medium sized producers
throughout the Midwest, many in Missouri.
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Focus on products that are value-added & consumer-oriented
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Members promote our services to the companies within their state
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Our mission is to promote the export of Midwestern food and
agriculture products through our programs and services
Greater

Ozark Trade Association
MAP – FAS – USDA
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast are funded
by the U.S. Congress through the
Market Access Program (MAP)
Which is administered by the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Which is an agency of the
United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
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Ozark Trade Association
Four State Regional Trade Groups
Greater Ozark Trade Association

Missouri and Midwestern Products
• Focus on products that are value-added,
consumer-oriented
• Branded food products
• Snack Food
• Convenience Food
• Natural Products
• Specialty Foods
• Private Label
• Food Ingredients
• Foodservice Products
• Feed Ingredients
• Other Value-Added Agricultural Products
• Seafood
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Ozark Trade Association
In-Market Representatives
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Brazil
Chile
China
Colombia
Hong Kong/Macau
India
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Southeast Asia
Taiwan
Vietnam
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Canada
Caribbean
Costa Rica
France
Germany
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Middle East
Ozark Trade Association
Programs and Services
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Providing Missouri and Midwestern agri-business
companies the services they need to achieve export
success focused on:
• Outreach and Exporter Education
• Market Entry
• Market Promotion
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Ozark Trade Association
Outreach and Exporter Education
• Tools that provide the
framework for export success
• Newsletters
• Foodexport.org – Export
Essentials
• Food Export HelplineTM
• Educational Seminars and
Webinars
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Ozark Trade Association
Market Entry
Customized services that identify the right markets for
products and establish relationships.
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Market Builder – Custom Market Intelligence
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Food Show PLUS!TM – International Tradeshow Success
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Buyers Missions – International Buyers Here at Home
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Focused Trade Missions – Total Market Immersion
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Online Product Catalog – 24/7 Online Exposure
Greater Ozark Trade Association

Market Promotion
• The Branded Program:
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50% More International Marketing
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Cost share assistance for branded products sold in foreign market
(50% cost reimbursement of eligible expenses)
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U.S. food & agricultural products only
(minimum 50% US agricultural origin)
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Products not covered by another industry group
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Small companies only (<500 employees) or agricultural cooperatives
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Ozark Trade Association
Success Stories
The Date Lady, Springfield, MO
•Participated in the Natural Products Expo Buyers Mission
•Met a buyer from Canada resulting in export sales of $13,000
•Projects another $30,000 in sales over the next two years
•Increased retail coverage to 70 stores in Canada
“Food Export helped us get in front of qualified international buyers by organizing
meetings and providing financial assistance. The online webinars and helpful staff
have also made the entry into foreign markets a lot less daunting! We hope this is
only the beginning!”
– Colleen Sundlie, Owner
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Ozark Trade Association
Success Stories
RIBUS, St. Louis, MO
•Promoted products using the Branded Program
•Exhibited at Vitafoods Europe and met distributors from
South America
•Projected export sales to reach $50,000 to the region
•Named MO Agriculture Exporter of the Year in 2012
“With this support, we’ve built a team of nine distributors covering more than 22
countries, and today export sales account for approximately 30 percent of our
business. The Branded Program and the associated matching funds made it possible
for our company to become a global supplier in a short period of time.”
– Steve Peirce,
President
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Ozark Trade Association
Success Stories
US International Foods, Creve Coeur, MO
•Participated in the Northeast Buyers Mission and educational
seminars and webinars
•Deal for $25,000 of potato chips and pretzels made with
Indonesian buyer
•Products sold through supermarkets and other retail channels
“The opportunities offered such as Buyers Missions, give us a great window to
new markets at an economical cost and without major investment in time and
travel.”
-Dave Shogren, COO
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Ozark Trade Association
Success Stories
US International Foods Named Missouri
Agricultural Exporter of the Year
“We are proud to announce that US International Foods has been named
Missouri Agricultural Exporter of the Year!
This is a good opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for all the help
and support that we get from the ATO, the Missouri Agriculture
Department, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Food Export
Midwest and the World Trade Center of St. Louis.
We appreciate what you do and the support you have given us!”
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Ozark Trade Association
How Can We Help You?
www.foodexport.org
Greater Ozark Trade Association