Nov.
2015

Issue
No. 11


Market Leader logo, December, 2013
Tip: Click on photos to enlarge.
Minnesota turkey production remains strong
Minnesota leads the nation in turkey production. Despite a difficult year for turkey growers contending with avian flu; supply is strong for this Thanksgiving. In 2015, Minnesota raised 18 percent of the country's 228 million birds, down only one percent from last year's 19 percent.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Minnesota Ag Export by Product (%-share by value)
Agriculture is Minnesota's largest exporting industry
Minnesota exported a total of $7.35 billion in agricultural products in 2014, according to the latest USDA data release. Ag exports account for more than one-third of Minnesota's total merchandise export, and far exceed the state's second top exporting industry; medical products.
Minnesota Top Exporting Industries (Billion $)

Minnesota is also the fourth largest agricultural exporting state in the U.S. More than one-third of Minnesota's total agricultural production is exported to the world market. Top export products, contribute 75 percent of the state's total ag exports, include soybeans and soybean products, corn, pork, feed, dairy, and wheat.

In Minnesota, about 68,000 jobs are related to agricultural exports.

For information on Minnesota's ag exports, please contact Su Ye at 651-201-6384.
Food Export
Food Export Midwest's 2016 Branded Program now open
Now's the time to make plans to join us in the Minnesota Pavilion at SIAL Canada 2016, Canada's premier food show dedicated to the retail and food service trade. SIAL takes place April 13-15, 2016 in Montreal.

Canada is the #1 export market for U.S. consumer goods and value-added products, reaching $17 billion in 2014. Under NAFTA, the majority of U.S. agricultural products have entered Canada duty free since 1998.

Each fully-furnished 10' x 10' booth in the Minnesota Pavilion includes:
  • Back and side hard walls
  • Wall-to-wall carpeting
  • 2 wall shelves (1 meter long each)
  • Fascia with company name
  • Lockable demonstration counter
  • 1 table and 2 chairs
  • Lighting and outlet
  • Wastebasket
  • Daily booth cleaning
  • WiFi service
Cost per 100 sq ft of exhibit space is $3,000.

Your company may be eligible to receive 50 percent reimbursement of international trade show costs through Food Export Association of the Midwest's Branded Program. Eligible costs include exhibit space, international travel, freight costs to shows, and help with packaging changes to meet market specifications.

To reserve your spot at SIAL Canada, contact Jeffrey Phillips at 651-201-6220.
Food Show PLUS! at SIAL Canada
Enhance your exhibit at SIAL Canada by registering for Food Export's Food Show PLUS! services.

Services may include:
  • Introductions to qualified buyers
  • Targeted invitations to buyers
  • Market briefing by local USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service
  • Translate up to two pages of exhibitor material into local language
  • Pre-event custom product research: market overview, importation and distribution analysis
  • Local retail tour
  • On-site show assistance by Food Export's In-Market Representative
  • Identifying top leads from show
Early registration cost is only $225, find the details here.
Minnesota Pavilion space available
Discounted booths in great locations, first-come, first-served!
National Restaurant Association / American Food Fair Pavilion
McCormick Place - Chicago, May 21-24, 2016
3 booths remain

McCormick Place - Chicago, May 22-23, 2016
The show for wineries, craft brewers, distillers, craft mixers, and bar snack providers!

Sweets & Snacks Expo
McCormick Place - Chicago, May 24-26, 2016.
4 booths remain - starting at only $1,500
*Retail for a 10' x 10' space is more than $4,000! Save with us.

Javits Center, New York, June 26-28, 2016
5 of 10 booths remain

Feast Festival and Tradeshow Dec. 4-5
Where can you go to find a sales opportunity (holiday shoppers), conversations with buyers (stores and chains), and a great networking/learning opportunity with other food companies and service-providers? Feast Festival and Tradeshow at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester this December 4-5.

Reserve a booth for Friday to meet wholesale buyers from the tri-state area. Setup in the morning so you'll be able to catch some great educational events before the tradeshow.  Peer-to-peer sessions include:
There is also a Buyers Forum in the morning, with buyers available to answer questions about their protocols and requirements: Minneapolis Public Schools, Frank and Earnest Foods, Tonic Restaurant, Whole Foods Market, and representatives from retail food co-ops.

Service Providers: FEAST coordinators are offering tables to you for only $200 (to be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4). http://www.local-feast.org/support_service_providers
Natural and Organic food makers: 11/25 deadlines for two separate events
Minnesota Pavilion Light is available at both:
We worked with organizers to briefly set-aside inline booths/tables in a good location for Minnesota companies, to be held through Wednesday, November 25, 2015.

At Healthy and Natural, a new three-day trade only event, the MDA will reimburse 50 precent of the  $2,695 booth cost for eligible Minnesota Companies. The booth price includes furniture, carpet, and matchmaking appointments with retailers. Contact Heather Howser at 303-956-1331 to book your space.

At Fresh Ideas, certified organic only tent event, The MDA will reimburse 50 percent of the $1,495 table rental cost. The table comes with a badge to walk the NPEW show (a $600+ value alone). Contact Gina Spampinato at 303-998-9250 to book your space.
Midwest Pantry's Shop Small Saturday
Midwest Pantry is again promoting a free Shop Small event in St. Anthony Village, including 40 artisan food and craft products. Free parking, daycare, and some fun shopping that includes the satisfaction of buying local.
Minnesota Cup's EAT event: Reserve your exhibit table now
Join MN Cup and the Minnesota food/ag/beverage community on February 4, 2016 for EAT: Entrepreneurs At the Table. Learn about growing the food innovation network in Minnesota on February 4 at the Chow Girls space in the Solar Arts Building in Northeast Minneapolis. The evening will include local food and networking with members of the food innovation community. In addition to the program and networking, the event will feature 40 plus food/ag/beverage companies, past and future MN Cup applicants, showcasing, sampling, and selling product.

The event is free to exhibit and attend. Interested companies should contact Melissa Kjolsing to reserve space.
Attend the annual Ag Shipper workshop in Bloomington
On December 8, the Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTC) will hold its annual Ag Shipper workshop at the Minneapolis Airport Marriot Hotel in Bloomington. Presentations and discussions include:
  • The future of West Coast ports. Have they recovered? What about East and Gulf Coast? Role of port productivity legislation with Peter Friedmann.
  • Ocean carriage with COSCO VP of Export Sales, Peter Vigil.
  • Rail service for Midwest Shippers with representatives from Canadian National Railway.
  • New SOLAS Container Weight Certification.
  • Trade agreements, export documentation
All conversations are informal, discover details and register here, or contact Abigail at 202-783-3333.
Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission at the 2016 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE)
Demand for animal based protein is growing worldwide. As countries expand their livestock industry to meet this demand, they look for feed ingredient suppliers. Food Export-Midwest, in partnership with the American Feed Industry Association, will offer a Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission in conjunction with the IPPE (a combination of the International Poultry, Meat and Feed Expos).

This is the perfect low-cost opportunity to meet, one-on-one, with feed ingredient buyers from around the world, in one place! Register early, meeting slots are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

January 26, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia
Registration deadline: December 14, 2015 - $225
Looking Ahead

Event
Location
Date
Link
Export tools and strategies for success
Winona, MN
December 2Register here
Feast Festival and Tradeshow
Rochester, MN
December 4-5Register here
Ag TC Workshop
Bloomington, MNDecember 8Register here
Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission
Atlanta, GAJan. 27-29, 2016Register here
Minnesota Ag ExpoMankato, MNJan. 27-28, 2016Register here
Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace
Anaheim, CAMarch 10, 2016Info here
Healthy and Natural Trade Show
Chicago, ILMay 5-7, 2016Info here


Add a description
MDA in the news:
11/18/15 -
Sustainable agriculture grants due in December...Full Story

11/8/15 -
MDA looks to update Minnesota Grown Directory...Full Story
Ag Trivia

Question:
If you're serving 8 adults and 4 kids this Thanksgiving, how big of a turkey should you serve?

Answer:
 
Words of the world:
Vietnamese: Thank you = Cam on (cah-mon)

Thanks for catching up with us on the latest import and export news from Minnesota to the world!  If you have any questions or suggestions to improve this newsletter please email me, thank you,

Michael Crusan
MDA Communications
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's mission is to enhance Minnesotans' quality of life by ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength of our agricultural economy.