NASDA to Co-Locate U.S. Food Export Showcase with specialty and organic events in 2008
News Date: 2/14/2007
Contact: DeWitt Ashby, NASDA, (202)296-9680, dewitt@nasda.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) officially announces that it will co-locate the U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) in Chicago in 2008. Together with the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc.’s (NASFT®) Fancy Food Show® and the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) All Things Organic™, the co-location will create the largest display of specialty, ethnic, artisanal, natural, organic and American-made, ready-to-export food products in the U.S. The event, scheduled for April 27-29, 2008 at McCormick Place, is expected to draw large delegations of food buyers from North America and around the world.
“The partnership with NASFT and OTA will produce a world-class event that will benefit food buyers in the global retail and specialty industries,” explains NASDA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard W. Kirchhoff. “With the committed support NASDA has obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the show participants will include the best America has to offer in packaged and ready-to-eat food products,” said Kirchhoff. “Chicago is an ideal location for this event.” Ann Daw, President, NASFT, added, “We are pleased to further develop our relationship with NASDA and OTA, creating a world-class event worthy of Chicago.”
The U.S. Food Export Showcase is designed to help small and mid-size food manufacturers tap into the growth potential of international markets. NASDA will work closely with its members, four affiliated state regional trade groups (Food Export Association of the Midwest, Food Export USA - Northeast, Southern US Trade Association, and the Western US Agricultural Trade Association) and FAS to offer food industry entrepreneurs an affordable way to reach food buyers from around the world.
For information on attending or exhibiting at the U.S. Food Export Showcase in Chicago’s McCormick Place, please contact:
U.S. Food Export Showcase Management
10474 Armstrong Street
Fairfax, Virginia 22030 USA
Phone: 703-934-4700, Fax: 703-934-4899, E-mail: usfes@cmgexpo.com
NASDA is a non-profit association of public officials representing the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture in the 50 states and four territories of the United States of America. For more information on NASDA, visit www.nasda.org
Established in 1952, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT®) is the only U.S. trade association representing all segments of the specialty food industry. Today, there are 2,500 members that produce nearly 180,000 specialty food products. The NASFT is the owner and operator of three Fancy Food Shows, and is the publisher of Specialty Food Magazine, which reaches 30,100 trade professionals and Specialty Food NewsTM, an electronic newsletter with 47,000 readers; and hosts www.specialtyfood.com and www.specialtyfoodmarket.com. For more information on the Fancy Food Show®, visit www.fancyfoodshows.com.
The mission of the Organic Trade Association is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. OTA envisions organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people’s lives and the environment. As a membership-based business association, the OTA focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA’s 1,700 members include farmers, processors, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers, certifiers, and more. For further information, visit OTA’s website at www.ota.com. For more information on All Things OrganicTM, visit www.organicexpo.com