The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) has launched a new Artisan Cheese Maker Membership category for artisan cheesemakers with annual sales under $15 million. Designed for small and specialty cheese companies that are new to exporting or exploring international markets, this membership offers a lower-cost entry point into USDEC’s export programming at an annual rate of $2,500. Benefits include access to export-focused initiatives, greater visibility for artisan producers, and resources to help companies build export readiness and grow in international markets. This new category is intended to support and strengthen the artisan cheese sector alongside state and regional efforts. For more details, please contact Erica Louder (elouder@usdec.org) or Jennifer Lu (jennifer.lu@wisconsin.gov).
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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 the program webpage to begin your 2026 application.
For more information, contact Shirley Acedo (shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov) at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) or Daniel Griffith (dgriffith@foodexport.org) at Food Export-Midwest.
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Date: June 16, 2026
Location: Monterrey, Mexico
In conjunction with the World Cup, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Rail (CPKC) and the USDA Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Monterrey, Mexico are celebrating the prolonged trilateral agriculture trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with a World Cup-themed agriculture supply chain popup trade show and rail logistics presentations. The event will take place on June 16 at CPKC’s Monterrey Headquarters from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Designed to foster informal networking, the gathering will bring together key representatives across the agricultural supply chain to strengthen and grow rail-based exports to Mexico. Prior to the tailgate-style trade show, attendees can participate in a traditional business conference featuring presentations prepared by U.S. and Mexican border inspectors, CPKC, Americold, and the USDA. These sessions will focus on the opportunities and challenges of rail logistics. The business conference will be limited to 250 people while the trade show and B2B networking component will include up to 400 people.
DATCP invites Wisconsin companies to join them at this event. This event will provide a strong platform for connecting with buyers, importers, and logistics partners in Mexico. Businesses may exhibit independently with dedicated display space or choose to feature their products through the Wisconsin Pavillion.
As time is approaching fast, please contact Shirley Acedo (shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov) and Jennifer Lu (jennifer.lu@wisconsin.gov) to learn more.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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Date: October 17-21, 2026
Location: Paris, France
Over the span 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 (shirley.acedo@wisconsin.gov) for more information and to secure your spot.
Funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports*
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Date: November 10-12, 2026
Location: 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, coffee, bakery, snacks, confectionary, chocolate, meat, seafood, catering design, 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 (jennifer.lu@wisconsin.gov) 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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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 the Food Export website.
For a full list of upcoming training webinars, buyers missions, trade shows, and more, visit the events webpage.
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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:
Learn more and register on the USDA FAS website.
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- June 2-4 – VIV Europe
- June 6-13 – WEDC Mission to Germany
- August 31-September 3 – Fine Food Australia
 Group of representatives from Wisconsin companies at the Wisconsin Pavilion at the FoodEx Japan tradeshow.
From March 9-13, 2026, DATCP staff, along with representatives from Blue River Trading, Ellsworth, Hinterland Brewery, Hoards Dairyman, Hollander Chocolate, Masters Gallery Foods, and Orange Cheese exhibited within the Wisconsin Pavilion at the FoodEx Japan tradeshow in Tokyo, Japan. The show brought together more than 74,000 visitors.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Staff at exhibitor booth during Food Exports Chacuterie Mission.
From March 15-19, 2026, DATCP staff from the International Agribusiness Center served as the activity coordinator for Food Exports Charcuterie Misson to Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Attendees view presentation at the U.S. Identity Preserved International Summit.
Staff from DATCP’s International Agribusiness Center attended the U.S. Identity Preserved International Summit event from March 22-24, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While there, they interacted with Wisconsin suppliers, and international buyers of food grade soybeans.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Group of Northern Tanzanian trainees, experts, and International Agribusiness Center staff pose in a pasture.
Staff from DATCP's International Agribusiness Center joined experts from Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, American Embryo Transfer Association, and National Association for Animal Breeders, who developed a training program focused on training-the-trainers for the Northern Tanzania dairy industry.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Attendees pose in front of ribbon at a ribbon cutting ceremony.
During the week of April 12-16, 2026, DATCP staff joined the USDA Deputy Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering on an Agribusiness Trade Mission to the Philippines to promote U.S. agricultural exports, strengthen trade ties, and expand opportunities for U.S. producers within the Philippine market.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Attendees talk at tables in a conference room.
From April 14-16, 2026, DATCP staff served as an activity coordinated for a Focused Trade Mission to Chile. Participating companies were able to attend in a retail tour, market briefing, and tabletop product showcase.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 IABC International Economic Development Consultant Jennifer Lu with representatives from Nasonville Dairy and Orange Cheese Company in Milwaukee.
On April 16, 2026, DATCP's International Agribusiness Center staff attended CheeseExpo in Milwaukee, connecting with Wisconsin cheese companies, industry partners, and international stakeholders. The event provided valuable opportunities to discuss export markets, available support programs, and ways to strengthen Wisconsin’s global cheese presence.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
 Panel discussion (left to right): Ira Frydman, Bureau Director – Export and Business Development, International Agribusiness Center (IABC), Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) (Moderator); Tom Guerin, Assistant Director, Center for Dairy Research (CDR), University of Wisconsin–Madison; Alfiya Thomas, Vice President of Export Sales, Schreiber Foods; Ben Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
On April 23, 2026, DATCP's International Agribusiness Center joined Madison International Trade Association (MITA) on the Growing Wisconsin Cheese Exports Globally program in Milwaukee. The program featured industry, research, and trade perspectives from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Schreiber Foods, the Center for Dairy Research, and DATCP.
To read the full event recap, visit the success story webpage.
*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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