Canada: North American Neighbors 2024
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service is recruiting qualified and export ready U.S. food producers with a minimum of $1 million in sales to participate in the North American Neighbors 2024 Virtual Trade Event (VTE). This virtual trade event will take place December 3 – 4, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. EST to 4:00 p.m. EST daily. An overflow day of December 5, 2024 will be available if needed.
Canada is the largest export market for U.S. consumer-oriented foods (i.e., ready to eat foods). In 2023, U.S. exports of consumer-oriented foods reached $20.4 billion. U.S. products are recognized in Canada and throughout the world as being safe, innovative, and high quality. Due to the geographical proximity and number of Canadian visitors to the United States, consumers and buyers look to the U.S. market for new and specialty products not found in Canadian stores.
This event is designed to help food and agriculture businesses take steps in exploring export opportunities. This VTE will include one-on-one virtual business meetings, an overview of the Canadian market, and educational opportunities, including learning about USDA resources and regulatory compliance in Canada.
Once accepted into the program, FAS Canada staff and a Canadian industry expert will connect one-on-one with you before the VTE to identify the unique selling position of your U.S. brand. This interview will help to qualify specific Canadian buyers, brokers, importers, and distributors best suited for the product line, facilitating long term success. Companies will be educated and instructed on how to ship their product samples to Canada as this will be the participant’s responsibility. FAS Canada will distribute samples to the interested Canadian importers. Advanced review of the U.S. samples by the Canadian buyer or representative helps to facilitate all virtual conversations and provide the potential buyers with a better understanding of products.
FAS Canada encourages U.S. companies producing consumer-oriented foods for the foodservice and retail channel to apply for this Virtual Trade Event. Products of interest are organic, natural ingredients, gluten free products, snack foods, beverages in light packaging, condiments, dried fruit products, confectionary foods, retail packaged beans, lentils, and other retail-ready products with unique selling positions – all of these do well in the Canadian market.
Further, Canadian importers have expressed an interest in meeting with U.S. producers willing to supply product for private label lines in major Canadian retailers.
Canada offers a sophisticated integrated food supply chain, allowing U.S exporters to feel confident their shipments will reach their destination. There are excellent warehousing and distribution centers across the country, along with a developed trucking network to get food products on store shelves in a timely manner.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: October 18th, 2024
Status: Closed