U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead 24 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations on a trade mission to Bogota, Colombia, Aug. 13-15, to boost American agricultural exports and build upon the successes of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.
“Colombia is a significant growth market for U.S. agricultural exports. As Latin America’s third-most-populous country, it features an expanding middle class and rising consumer purchasing power,” said Taylor. “Colombian consumers are hungry for the world-class food and agricultural products that the U.S. offers, and I am excited to see how this mission expands bilateral trade and provides new opportunities for U.S. agriculture.”
In 2023, U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia reached a record $3.7 billion. Colombia ranks as the seventh-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports, while the United States is the top export market for Colombia’s agricultural products. Colombia’s gross domestic product is expected to continue growing and remain slightly higher than the regional average, setting the table for continued interest in U.S. products.
U.S. food and farm products are highly sought after in the Colombian market. A growing number of two-income households means consumers are increasingly interested in packaged and prepared foods, while substantial regulatory changes in packaging and taxes on products high in sugar, salt and saturated fats are helping drive demand for healthy foods.
While in Colombia, trade mission delegates will participate in business-to-business meetings with potential customers and policy discussions that will help build on the strong trade ties forged by the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.
Joining Under Secretary Taylor on the trade mission will be officials from the Mississippi, Wisconsin and Texas departments of agriculture, as well leaders from the following businesses and organizations representing the diversity of U.S. agriculture:
1. Aero-Cos International, Marlboro, N.J.
2. American Commodity Company, LLC, Williams, Calif.
3. Ampac Seed Company, Tangent, Ore.
4. Bard Valley Date Growers, Yuma, Calif.
5. Beaver Street Fisheries, Jacksonville, Fla.
6. Best Buy Grocers, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
7. Butterball, LLC., Garner, N.C.
8. Erratic Oaks Vineyard dba Citation Wines and Centerstone Wines, Issaquah, Wash.
9. Estrada Foods Brokerage, Miami, Fla.
10. Eurosemillas, S.A. – Green Motion Avocados, Riverside, Calif.
11. Exclusive Brand Marketing, Miami, Fla.
12. Feast Global, Ocean Springs, Miss.
13. FSD International, Atlanta, Ga.
14. Hoogwegt U.S., Inc., Lake Forest, Ill.
15. Ice Cream Factory, Lebanon, Mich.
16. Lamex Food, Inc., Bloomington, Minn.
17. Lead (USA) Global Group, LLC., Monterey Park, Calif.
18. Midwest Premier Foods, Johnston, Iowa
19. National Swine Registry, West Lafayette, Ind.
20. River Global, Washington, DC
21. The Neil Jones Food Company, Vancouver, Wash.
22. Trim-Rite & Rantoul Foods, Carpentersville, Ill.
23. Tuxedo Farms / Tuxedo Corn Co., LLC., Olathe, Colo.
24. U.S. Dry Bean Council, Portland, Ore.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Source : usda.gov