Food Export Association of the Midwest USA
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| Formation | 1969[1] |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director | Brendan Wilson |
| Website | https://www.foodexport.org/ |
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (Food Export-Midwest) is a non-profit organization created in 1969 as a cooperative effort between 13 Midwestern state agricultural promotion agencies and the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The organization provides a wide range of services to promotes the export of food and agricultural products from the Midwestern region of the United States to consumers around the globe.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Food Export-Midwest works alongside state member agencies, the USDA, and Foreign Agricultural service to help small- and medium- sized companies identify real market opportunities and become export ready.
Food Export-Midwest is one of four State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs) that assist companies with export promotion. Three other regional groups, Food Export USA-Northeast (Food Export-Northeast), Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA), and Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) provide similar services for companies based or sourcing product from outside of the Food Export-Midwest 13-state region.
Foundation
Founded in 1969, Food Export-Midwest was created as a cooperative effort between 13 Midwestern state agricultural promotion agencies[2] and the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Those states are Illinois,[3] Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The Strategic Alliance
In 2000, Food Export-Midwest formed a strategic alliance with Food Export USA-Northeast (Food Export-Northeast) to enhance their ability to carry out their shared mission. This agreement ensures both organizations retain their independent status, while the companies they serve benefit from the collaborative effort created by the partnership, including streamlined operations, additional resources, and a broader range of international markets.
Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast's mission is to empower small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the Midwest and Northeast U.S. to sell their food and agricultural products internationally by:
- Simplifying Success: Reducing the risk and complexity of exporting value-added food, agricultural, seafood, and forestry products through education, market development, and promotion.
- Enriching Exchange: Connecting the world’s importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers to the best U.S. products and producers to strengthen the vitality of their regions, businesses, and communities.
- Realizing Resources: Partnering effectively with 23 member-state agencies and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service to invest in the future of their member states and U.S. agriculture. [4]
Market Access Program
Food Export-Midwest is one of several organizations that administer its programs each year through Market Access Program[5] funding. Through the Market Access Program (MAP), The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) "partners with U.S. agricultural trade associations, cooperatives, state regional trade groups and small businesses to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products and commodities."[6] As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy.