Agriculture Deputy Secretary Harden to Lead USDA Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Mission

Contact: Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2015—Leaders from five state departments of agriculture and 26 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden on a mission to sub-Saharan Africa Nov. 16 to Nov. 20, to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products in that market.

“Sub-Saharan Africa’s strong economic outlook, growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods creates a promising market for U.S. food and agricultural products,” Harden said.  “Over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to this region increased by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014.”

The mission includes 22 U.S. companies and four U.S. agricultural commodity trade associations representing a variety of agricultural products including grains and feeds, peanuts, soybeans, meat and poultry products, agricultural machinery, and more. 

Harden noted that many of the participants are small or medium-sized enterprises owned by women, minorities and/or veterans. The mission will also include leaders from the Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina and Texas departments of agriculture.

The delegation will meet with potential customers from more than a dozen countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in the region. This first-hand intelligence will help them develop strategies to start or expand sales to these key markets.

Top Sub-Saharan Africa markets for U.S. agricultural and related products last year included Nigeria ($847 million), Angola ($298 million) South Africa ($259 million), Ghana ($129 million), Kenya ($69 million) and Ethiopia ($83 million).

U.S. Companies Participating in the Sub-Saharan Africa Agribusiness Trade Mission:  

1. Agribusiness United Inc., Savannah, Ga.
2. Arkansas World Trade Center, Rogers, Ark.
3. Case New Holland Industrial, Washington, D.C.
4. Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Springfield, Ill.
5. GEMCO, New York, N.Y.
6. Grain Handler, Inc., Lakeville, Minn.
7. Hakan USA, Broadway, Va.
8. Kaivalya, LLC, Lanham, Md.
9. Kiwi International, Roswell, Ga.
10. Klausner Trading, Inc., Myrtle Beach, S.C.
11. Lamex, Bloomington, Minn.
12. LT International Trading Company, Wilmington, N.C.
13. Meat Team, Ltd., Los Angeles, Calif.
14. Mountaire Farms Inc., Millsboro, Del.
15. Premium Peanut, LLC, Douglas, Ga.
16. Pristina Capital Partners, Midland Park, N.J.
17. Suma Trading LLC, Swedesboro, N.J.
18. TRC Trading Corporation, Roseville, Calif.
19. Tysons Foods, Inc., Springdale, Ark.
20. United Source One, Belcamp, Md.
21. Virginia Natural Beef, Inc., Lexington, Va.
22. Zafi Beverages, Bensenville, Ill.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperators Participating in the Sub-Saharan Africa Agribusiness Trade Mission 

1. American Soybean Association, St. Louis, Mo.
2. USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, Stone Mountain, Ga.
3. U.S. Meat Export Federation, Denver, Colo.
4. USA Rice Federation, Arlington, Va.

USDA trade missions open doors and deliver results for U.S. exporters, giving them the opportunity to forge relationships with potential customers and foreign government officials, as well as to gather market intelligence that will help develop strategies to expand sales in key markets overseas. Sign up for more information at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFAS/subscriber/new.

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