New Mexico food, ag companies invited to join trade mission to southeast Asia

New Mexico food, ag companies invited to join trade mission to southeast Asia NMDA, 12 western counterparts to promote American agriculture in Vietnam, April 4-8 (LAS CRUCES, N.M.) – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is recruiting food and agricultural companies from across the state to join a trade mission to Vietnam, April 4-8. Companies need not have any exporting experience to be considered for participation. The trade mission includes stops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City, where participants will meet one-on-one with pre-qualified buyers, importers, and distributors interested in sourcing U.S. food and agricultural products for the retail, food service, and ingredient sectors. In addition to being invited to showcase their products, participants will benefit from market briefings, facility tours, trade receptions, and other events. The trade mission will be led by the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA). WUSATA is a non-profit trade association that offers training, matching funds, market research, and more to help food and agricultural companies in New Mexico and 12 other western states export their products. The secretaries, directors, and commissioners of agriculture in these 13 states – including New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte – are participating in the mission. “The most recent data show that exports of Western U.S. dairy products to Vietnam topped $99 million in 2014, while U.S. pecan exports to the country accounted for $7.5 million the same year,” Witte said. “The opportunities to access markets in southeast Asia are certainly there, and they will improve if the Trans-Pacific Partnership is approved because then we’ll see a reduction in tariffs.” The number of spots for participants is limited. To be considered, interested New Mexico food and agricultural companies must register by March 5 at goo.gl/e1O4li. Those who are selected must pay a $750 registration fee to WUSATA, as well as their own international airfare. Once in Vietnam, WUSATA will cover the cost of ground transportation, lodging, and in-country air travel. To learn more, please contact NMDA International Marketing Specialist Jason New at (575) 646-4929 or jnew@nmda.nmsu.edu. For more information about NMDA’s marketing programs to help New Mexico’s food and agricultural producers, please visit www.nmda.nmsu.edu/marketing. WUSATA administers funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Market Access Program (MAP). For more information about WUSATA, please visit www.wusata.org