The 2024 Export Advisor Program is accepting registrations. This is a no-cost, year-long service providing custom assistance to help food companies kickstart or improve their export growth, for companies interested in using an export consultant to support market research and strategy development.
To learn more and register, visit www.foodexport.org.
 ExporTech™ is a program designed for emerging and experienced exporters to develop their strategic export plan. Over the course of three full-day sessions, CEOs/presidents and senior leaders in sales, marketing, finance, and operations join with non-competing companies to determine their top three export markets and develop an actionable, strategic plan.
Agricultural companies with products including processed foods, grains, mink pelts, livestock, genetics, and more are encouraged to participate.
ExporTech™ graduates realize between $600,000 and $1,000,000 in average incremental exports growth one year after completing the program.
Interested in participating? Contact Heidi Rabeneck.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports* and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
 February 17-21, 2025 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates*
Wisconsin processed food companies are invited to exhibit in the Wisconsin Pavilion at Gulfood 2025. With global attendees, Gulfood is the place to meet and connect with food buyers worldwide. Participating companies are required to sign up for Food Export-Midwest Food Show Plus! services. DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package. Participants are accepted on a first-come basis and are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
We have only one remaining spot for this heavily desired event! To participate, contact Shirley Acedo.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
 February 23-28, 2025 – Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is organizing a trade mission to Mexico to help Wisconsin companies connect with potential partners and other intermediaries in this market. Participants will receive market intelligence customized for their company and product/service offerings. One-on-one meetings will be arranged based on each company’s specific needs. With logistics handled for them, participants can focus on getting the most out of each meeting.
Access the flyer for this event.
To participate, contact Jacob Leum.
 March 12-14, 2025 – Bangkok, Thailand*
Held every other year in Bangkok, Thailand, VIV Asia is the largest and most complete feed-to-food event in Asia. Participating companies meet with buyers in feed production, animal farming, breeding, genetics, veterinary and animal health solutions, slaughtering, meat, fish, egg, and dairy processing. DATCP offers a turnkey, furnished, and shared booth package. The deadline to register is December 1, 2024, and registrants will be accepted on a first-come basis. Participants are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
To participate, contact Jennifer Lu or Jacob Leum.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
 March 17-19, 2025 – London, England, United Kingdom*
The International Food and Drink Event (IFE) is the only food and drink trade exhibition with UK government support, making it the premier event for the UK food and beverage industry for more than 31 years. IFE London 2025 will serve as a hub for over 23,000 buyers along with visitors from 105 countries for the food, drink, and hospitality supply chain, including those from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda Stores, Iceland, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Aramark, and British Airways. Participants are accepted on a first-come basis and are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
To participate, contact Shirley Acedo.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
April 8-10, 2025 – São Paulo, Brazil*
Wisconsin processed food companies are invited to exhibit in the Wisconsin Pavilion at Anuga Select Brazil, where entrepreneurs, business owners, and food and beverage industry professionals can meet new suppliers, learn from industry experts, and have in-depth discussions about the industry's latest global trends. Anuga Select Brazil is a complete showcase of national and international product launches for retail, food service chains, and hospitality. Participants are accepted on a first-come basis and are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
To participate, contact Jacob Leum.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
 April 8-11, 2025 – Singapore
Join DATCP at Asia’s leading international food and beverage event, where nearly 1,700 exhibitors from 91 countries meet with over 72,000 attendees on a 65,000 square meter show floor.
This platform will provide global suppliers with valuable access to quality buyers, including distributors, importers, manufacturers, and retailers. Attendees will also gain valuable insights into developments and future trends of the food and beverage industry. Booth space is free; participants are responsible for their own travel, hotel, and meals.
To participate, contact Shirley Acedo.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
 May 5-8, 2025 – Milan, Italy*
TuttoFood is for the entire agri-food ecosystem. Global and innovative, it is the world reference point for producers and distributors of quality products across the complete food and beverage supply chain, who meet during the exhibition potential buyers such as distributors, importers, proximity stores, gourmet stores, food service, out-of-home professionals, and chefs. TuttoFood looks to the future and develops innovation in line with consumer trends and market dynamics.
Participants are accepted on a first-come basis and are responsible for airfare, hotel, and meals.
To participate, contact Jacob Leum.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
May 5-8, 2025 – Cologne, Germany*
Join DATCP at Interzum Cologne 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for furniture production and interior design. This event hosts over 74,000 visitors from more than 150 countries with industry leader networking opportunities and the chance to explore new markets. For Wisconsin forestry product suppliers, Interzum is a platform to showcase our state's high-quality hardwood and softwood products, connecting with potential buyers and expanding into the European market.
Participants are accepted on a first-come basis and are responsible for travel, hotel and meals. Booth space is free, and state and federal funding are available for certain product categories.
To participate, contact Jennifer Lu.
Funded by Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) agricultural trade missions help American companies increase their global reach. Upcoming missions include the following:
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Morocco (Casablanca, with buyers from Senegal and Francophone West Africa): December 3-6, 2024 (Deadline Passed)
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Bangkok, Thailand: February 3-6, 2025 (Deadline Passed)
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Guatemala City, Guatemala: March 3-6, 2025 (TBC)
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Hong Kong: May 12-16, 2025
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Lima, Peru: June 2-5, 2025
Learn more and register at the USDA FAS website.
 In September 2024, DATCP participated in a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Vietnam Agricultural Trade Mission. The delegation included representatives from 36 U.S. agribusinesses, 25 cooperators and industry associations, and nine State Departments of Agriculture, along with Wisconsin-based U.S. Livestock and Genetics Export.
DATCP's Division of Agricultural Development Administrator Krista Knigge (pictured above, center) met with Green Plus, an importer of Wisconsin ginseng, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin, and Food Export-Midwest in-country representatives as well as cooperators in the meat and animal feed industries. To learn more about the mission, visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page.
 September 2-5, DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski led a mission to São Paulo, Brazil, to promote Wisconsin food products to one of the largest markets in Latin America. Wisconsin cheese, pickles, potato chips, barbecue sauce and cheese sauce were featured in a tailgate promotion event hosted by the U.S. Embassy in connection with a National Football League (NFL) American Football game. The Secretary and staff also had a full agenda of meetings with officials from the Brazilian dairy producing states of Santa Catarina and São Paulo, food retailers, a dairy producer, meat processors, and livestock researchers.
visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page for more details.
 Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China (FMC) is China’s premier tradeshow dedicated to the furniture manufacturing industry and supply chains. From September 10 through 13, 2024, a diverse group of professional buyers, manufacturers, designers, and architects gathered for this event. Softwood Export Council (SEC) and American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) both had pavilions. Midwest Hardwood Company, Granite Valley Forestry Products, Northwest Hardwoods and Ballie Lumber showcased products in the AHEC pavilion along with 26 AHEC members. Ashley Furniture had a large presence in the Home Furnishings section.
DATCP assisted both SEC and Hardwood States Export Group to collect trade leads and met with potential buyers from China, India, Pakistan, and South Africa. Feedback from the show pointed to market challenges, such as the weakening Chinese yuan and U.S. tariffs, but demand for U.S. hardwood products like white oak, red oak, and walnut remain strong. Interest in U.S. softwood products for furniture framing, construction, and outdoor uses increased from last year. Show traffic was strong, with steady trade leads over four days. FMC 2024 confirmed strong demand for U.S. hardwood and softwood products and continues to be a crucial show for U.S. and Wisconsin wood products in China.
 From September 23 to 27, DATCP joined a U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) trade mission to Indonesia and the Philippines, aiming to expand Wisconsin’s dairy exports in these high-potential markets. Indonesia, with over 277 million people and a fast-growing middle class, is seeing rising demand for quality dairy products. Meanwhile, the Philippines, with its population of 113 million people and strong affinity for U.S. culture, is a natural fit for Wisconsin cheese. Visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page for more details.
 DATCP, in collaboration with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), hosted an Indonesian inbound trade mission to Wisconsin during World Dairy Expo 2024. The delegation included 17 representatives from the Indonesian government, farm sector, food manufacturing, and universities who attended presentations, participated in tours, and spent time at World Dairy Expo. Visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page for more details.
 During the first week of October, DATCP hosted a delegation from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan as part of a collaboration with U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA FAS) Central Asia. The delegation attended World Dairy Expo in Madison, visited Wisconsin dairy businesses, and participated in seminars and workshops. Visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page to learn more.
 World Dairy Expo 2024 was the stage for two significant international events hosted by DATCP: the International Exporters Workshop and the International Producers Symposium. Each session had more than 100 attendees from regions including Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Latin America. These events underscored Wisconsin’s global leadership in dairy and its expanding market opportunities.
The International Exporters Workshop provided crucial insights into global market access, helping exporters navigate international trade, identify new market demands, and connect with global partners. Meanwhile, the International Producers Symposium focused on sustainable dairy production, featuring new technologies, herd management strategies, and innovations from around the world.
These impactful events would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of our partners: US Livestock Exporters Association, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, and the American Soybean Marketing Association. Their sponsorship and partnership were instrumental in making these sessions a success and fostering international connections within the global dairy industry.
 On October 9-10, DATCP participated in Food Export Midwest and Northeast meetings in Chicago, IL. There were 23 states represented from the two regions with a focus on food and agricultural exports.
The event began with valuable insights from CEO/Executive Director Brendan Wilson and updates from Teresina Chin, International Marketing Specialist at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and RJ Karney, Senior Director of Public Policy at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).
Attendees had the privilege of hearing from five in-market representatives (IMRs) who shared their perspectives on key trends across various international markets. The day continued with focused meetings on Food Export's initiatives among staff, contractors, and IMRs, while the member state representatives discussed current and future Food Export programs and state engagement.
On day two, attendees participated in a strategic planning workshop and engaged in discussions on progress, growth, and future goals. These sessions provided an invaluable opportunity for everyone to share their insights and contribute to Food Export's strategic planning.
 From October 15 to 18, DATCP representatives attended the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit in Paris, France, to discuss and learn about marketing, global sustainability, and animal care topics. DATCP representatives also promoted Wisconsin agriculture and cheeses with sampling at the U.S. Dairy Export Council stand. There were 1600 people in attendance representing more than 60 countries.
For the last 120 years, IDF has contributed to the development of standards for the dairy sector and has closely collaborated with key stakeholders to share its expertise for milk and dairy products, with safe, sustainable, and fair-trade practices at heart. Wisconsin dairy farmers have been practicing sustainability for generations and will continue to innovate for the generations to come.
 From October 15-19, Wisconsin companies brought the best of America’s Dairyland to SIAL Paris in Frace, joining over 7,000 exhibitors from more than 200 countries who engaged with nearly 300,000 visitors. This global platform drew distinguished guests that underscored the significance of Wisconsin's international reputation. And Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin presented a spectacular 7-foot-long charcuterie board that drew audiences (pictured above). Visit DATCP's Trade Mission Recaps page to learn more.
 In February 2023, Croix Valley Foods made headway toward international growth by participating in its first Trade Venture to Mexico through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). As a producer of award-winning BBQ sauces and seasonings from Hudson, Wisconsin, Croix Valley sought to explore new opportunities in the Mexican market. During this initial venture, they successfully forged relationships with potential buyers, setting the stage for further development.
Building on that momentum, Croix Valley returned to Mexico in January 2024 on a joint trade mission organized by WEDC and the DATCP. Through this second venture, Croix Valley deepened its relationships with local buyers, distributors, and retailers, which have led to tangible results including securing distribution deals and gaining entry into over 100 retail locations across Mexico. This marks a significant achievement in their international expansion strategy.
Croix Valley’s continued growth in Mexico is further supported by connections made at the ANUGA trade show in Germany in October 2023 while participating in the DATCP booth, where the company established an in-country sales force to drive their business forward. Looking ahead, Croix Valley plans to expand further in 2025, aiming to enter an additional 400 retail locations throughout Mexico. This strategic growth highlights Croix Valley's commitment to delivering their premium, authentic American BBQ products to a global market.
*The Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE), a collaborative project between DATCP and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), aims to boost the export of dairy, meat, and crop products by promoting Wisconsin agricultural products in the international marketplace. WIAE was proposed in Gov. Tony Evers' 2021-23 biennial state budget.
For more information on WIAE, sign up for email updates and visit the DATCP website.
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