INDUSTRY INSIGHT
The Business of
AGRICULTURAL TRADE By Whitney Lett
Introducing Florida’s Food Producers to the World
T
he business of international trade is daunting to many food producers. It can be difficult enough to sell products in a domestic market, so exporting products may seem to be an impossible task. Thankfully, there are resources available through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to help food and beverage companies in the state grow their consumer base past the U.S. and into the global market. The FDACS Division of Marketing and Development is home to the Trade Development team, which focuses on growing agricultural trade locally and expanding products to the worldwide marketplace. Domestic consumers are familiar with the “Fresh From Florida” logo next to products in weekly ads from their local grocery store. Most don’t realize that same logo is popping up on restaurant menus in Canada, billboards in the Dominican Republic, product displays in Denmark and Sweden, and social media in Korea. The team’s partnerships with grocery retailers and distributors around the world offer the potential to match Florida growers and producers with unique opportunities in markets they might not have considered. Trade Development also participates in international trade events to give Florida agricultural companies a chance to exhibit internationally, as well as to make connections with new partners and new markets. Additionally, Trade Development offers
48
APRIL 2021 | i4Biz.com
WHITNEY LETT is a development representative with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Her role within the Division of Marketing and Development is to encourage international trade for Florida’s agriculture industry. She can be reached at Whitney.Lett@fdacs.gov.
