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Event date/time: April 23 from 2-5 p.m.
Location: Global Water Center (The Water Council), 247 W Freshwater Way, Milwaukee, WI 53204
This event is presented in Partnership with the Madison International Trade Association; Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; and in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Center for Dairy Research, and Schreiber Foods.
Wisconsin’s cheese export success is built on strong collaboration between state government, industry promotion, and cheese companies. This session will highlight how DATCP works with DFW to support cheese exporters and grow Wisconsin’s cheese global markets.
Topics will include (1) Ag Export statistics overview of 2025, including a focus on dairy exports and government roles and programs; and (2) Building global demand and branding. The session will close with a cheese pairing class presented by Chef Shannon of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin followed by a networking reception.
This is an in-person event only. Registration is MITA Members $35; Non-members $50. For more information, visit Madison International Trade Association.
Photo courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
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 Export Ready: Opportunity, Reality, Action
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Location: Waukesha County Technical College, 800 Main St., Pewaukee WI, 53072
Join top business leaders and trade experts for practical insights into unlocking new export opportunities and breaking into global markets.
- Keynote outlook on global markets and export opportunities.
- Real-world insights from successful exporters.
- Actionable sessions to fast-track export resources.
A collaboration led by the Madison International Trade Association with the District Export Council and International Credit Executives, bringing together Wisconsin exporters, service providers, and state and federal trade agencies.
More details and registration information is available - Export Ready: Opportunity, Reality, Action - Madison International Trade Association.
The Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council (WAXC) helps to guide the initiatives created through the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE) and includes international trade experts from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and DATCP, state legislators, and agriculture organizations and agribusinesses representing crop, dairy, and meat products.
The council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. For more information and to register to attend the meeting virtually, visit the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE) webpage.
DATCP welcomes Jacob Eifert as the Food Export Midwest State Export Intern. In this role, Jacob will be responsible for program support for Food Export Midwest projects undertaken by the international staff of the Division of Agricultural Development. Primary responsibilities include market research, communicating with Wisconsin companies via email and telephone, reports, and assisting international consultants with event preparation.
Jacob is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Agricultural Business and German.
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Food Export-Midwest is a non-profit organization made up of agricultural promotion agencies from 13 Midwestern states. The organization exists to provide the support U.S. companies need to enter international markets by offering education, global connections, export strategies, and marking financial assistance.
Branded Program 2026 applications are now available through Food Export-Midwest. The Branded Program provides 50% cost reimbursement for a wide variety of international marketing activities. Examples of the cost reimbursement include the following:
- International website development
- Foreign market-compliant packaging and labels
- Advertising and public relations
- In-store promotions and product demonstrations
- Fees for exhibiting at select overseas and domestic trade shows
- Marketing and point-of-sale materials
- Freight costs for product samples
Visit Branded Program - Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA–Northeast to begin your 2026 application.
For more information, contact Shirley Acedo at DATCP or Daniel Griffith at Food Export-Midwest.
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May 12-15, 2026
Nürnberg, Germany
At Interzoo, manufacturers, wholesalers, and service providers from 68 countries will feature the world’s most comprehensive product range for dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, aquariums and terrariums, animals in the garden, equestrian sports, petfood technology, packaging, and shop fittings.
DATCP invites pet food companies to join us by participating in the Wisconsin pavilion at this show. We offer a turnkey solution including a booth rental, graphics, and furnishings. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, meals, accommodations, and any additional equipment for samples.
Contact Jacob Leum if interested in participating.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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June 2-4, 2026
Utrecht, The Netherlands
VIV Europe is the top-quality event for animal and livestock industry. Professionals active in the production of poultry, eggs, pork, fish, feed systems, digital farming and management, milk production, and dairy farming, all have numerous reasons to meet up. It provides the platform to meet 600 suppliers from the entire supply chain. VIV Europe gathers every four years the latest innovations of the industry in the heart of the Netherlands!
DATCP invites pet food companies to join us by participating in the Wisconsin pavilion at this show. We offer a turnkey solution including a booth rental, graphics, and furnishings. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, meals, accommodations, and any additional equipment for samples.
Contact Jacob Leum if interested in participating.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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June 4-5, 2026
Bergamo, Italy
Forestry product companies are invited to showcase their products at Interzum Italy in Bergamo June 4–5, 2026. Italy is not only Europe’s third-largest furniture producer, but also a global design hub where innovation, craftsmanship, and supply chain connections set international trends. Exhibiting at Interzum Italy places Wisconsin companies at the heart of Europe’s thriving furniture and interior design industry - an ideal platform to build partnerships, access new buyers, and strengthen export opportunities.
Through the Wisconsin booth turnkey package, participating companies will benefit from:
- Prime exhibit space
- Professional booth design, setup, and dismantling
- Company branding in Europe’s premier future manufacturing market
Don’t miss this chance to expand into European markets and position your company in front of key industry decision-makers!
To learn more or secure your spot, please contact Jennifer Lu.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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June 6-13, 2026
Hessen/Frankfurt and Baden-Württemberg
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is organizing a trade mission to Germany to help Wisconsin companies connect with potential partners in this major European market, and agricultural companies are encouraged to join! This mission targets all of Germany and the surrounding region. Participants benefit from the firsthand knowledge of Wisconsin’s in-market trade representative, receiving market intelligence customized for their company and product/service offerings. One-on-one meetings are arranged based on each company’s specific needs, with logistics handled for them, so participants can focus on getting the most out of each meeting.
Germany is consistently among Wisconsin’s top export destinations, ranking fourth in 2024. The healthy volume of trade reflects a history of immigration from German-speaking countries to Wisconsin; mutual strength in manufacturing, and agriculture production; and shared emphasis on quality, productivity, and a strong work ethic. In all, Wisconsin exported more than $1 billion in goods to Germany in 2024.
Companies do not need to have prior export experience to benefit from this trade mission, making it a great way to begin an export journey.
The registration deadline for this program is March 15, 2026. For more information, contact Shirley Acedo or Jacob Leum, or register online at https://wedc.org/export-from-wisconsin/global-trade-missions/germany-2026.
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October 17-21, 2026
Paris, France
Over the space of 60 years, SIAL Paris has become the flagship meeting for the entire food industry. Every two years, SIAL Paris brings them together for five days of discoveries, discussions, and meetings.
DATCP is currently recruiting Wisconsin cheese companies to exhibit with us as part of the Wisconsin cheese presence at SIAL Paris 2026. DATCP had a successful Wisconsin cheese presence at the show in 2024, with the collaboration of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. We are building on that momentum and will replicate the large footprint again in 2026. There is no participation fee to exhibit within the Wisconsin Cheese booth, you would only incur your travel costs to staff the booth.
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.
Contact Shirley Acedo for more information and to secure your spot.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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November 10-12, 2026
Shanghai, China
As China's leading showcase for imported food and drinks, Food and Hospitality China (FHC) offers exhibitors the opportunity to meet buyers from wholesale and retail outlets, as well as manufacturers, importers, distributors, and representatives from the hospitality and catering trades in China and across Asia. FHC’s main exhibits include high-end dairy products, tea and coffee, bakery, snacks, confectionary, chocolate, meat and seafood, catering design and decoration products, and supply chain products.
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.
Contact Jennifer Lu for more information and to secure your spot.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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Food Export's trade missions create high-impact opportunities for U.S. suppliers to meet with prospective buyers and distributors in key international markets. These well-organized missions allow suppliers to better understand their export potential while building relationships that can lead to long-term growth in export sales.
2026 focused trade missions currently open for supplier registration include:
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Southeast Europe: April 28-29, 2026 (Feed Ingredients)
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Mexico: July 6-10, 2026 (Retail and Foodservice)
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Taiwan: August 18-20, 2026 (Retail and Foodservice)
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Canada: September 9-10, 2026 (Retail and Foodservice)
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Southeast Asia: October 5-9, 2026 (Retail and Foodservice)
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Korea: October 27-29, 2026 (Innovative, Healthy, & Convenient Products)
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Middle East: December 8-11, 2026 (Retail and Foodservice)
Details for all focused trade missions and the individual event offerings can be found on each event’s page on the Food Export website.
For a full list of upcoming training webinars, buyers missions, trade shows, and more, visit the Events page at Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA–Northeast.
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The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service's (USDA FAS) agricultural trade missions help American companies increase their global reach. Upcoming missions includes:
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Turkey: May 2026
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Australia and New Zealand: August 2026
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Saudi Arabia: September 2026
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Vietnam: November 2026
Learn more and register on the USDA FAS website.
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- March – Food Export Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Cheese, Sausage, and Beverages
- March 10-13 – FoodEx Japan
- April 15-16 – Food Export Focused Trade Mission to Chile for Retail and Food Service
- May 20-22 – ILDEX Vietnam
- August 31-September 3 – Fine Food Australia
 Staff from DATCP's International Agribusiness Center, along with 79th Alice in Dairyland Sarah Hagenow, kicked off 2026 by attending the Lake States Lumber Association (LASA) 2026 Winter Meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp-auth-prod.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/LakeStatesLumberAssociation2026WinterMeeting.aspx.
 DATCP was honored to collaborate with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) China during the unveiling of a Wisconsin-themed ice sculpture at the Harbin International Ice Festival in January 2026.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/WisconsinDairyHarbinInternationalIceFestival.aspx.
From January 26-30, 2026, DATCP staff, along with representatives from Cheese Merchants, Door County Coffee, and Croix Valley, exhibited within the Wisconsin Pavilion at the Gulfood tradeshow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The show brought together more than 8,500 exhibitors from more than 194 countries.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/Gulfood2026.aspx.
 Staff from DATCP's International Agribusiness Center joined Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin in hosting Wisconsin specialty cheese importer trainings in Singapore and Thailand. The trainings brought together importers, distributors, chefs, and retail professionals to deepen their understanding of Wisconsin cheese.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/WisconsinCheeseImporterTrainings.aspx.
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service Dubai coordinated a two-day add-on event that took place immediately following Gulfood, featuring a U.S. Product Showcase in Oman. The event was in collaboration with the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry to explore market opportunities.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/OmanProductShowcase.aspx.
 From February 3-5, DATCP staff served as activity coordinator for a consumer-orientated product trade mission to Ghana. Participating company representatives were able to participate in a retail tour, market briefing, and tabletop product showcase.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/FoodExportTradeMissionWestAfrica.aspx.
 Staff from DATCP's International Agribusiness Center joined more than 70 industry leaders, U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service officials, and nine state departments of agriculture at the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. Annual Meeting February 11-13, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
To read the full event recap, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/USLGEAnnualMeetingMexico.aspx.
*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. The WIAE was proposed in Gov. Tony Evers 2021-23 biennial state budget.
For more information on the WIAE, sign up for email updates and visit the DATCP website.
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