Marketing Resources

For more information call (360) 902-1940.

WSDA Assistance  

WSDA works with individual companies to find buyers and to promote their products overseas.  This includes providing promotional support, introductions to other promotional organizations, and introductions within the countries through WSDAs Agricultural Trade Representatives in major markets and the USDAs Agricultural Trade Offices [external link].

New Export Advising and Business Meeting Opportunity

The International Marketing Program within the Department of Agriculture will be hosting 1-on-1 consultations with our overseas representatives April 15-18, 2013. These sessions will allow you to sit down with and ask one of our four in-market experts specific questions about exporting your products to China, Japan, Mexico and Korea. Following these consultations, there will be four inbound trade delegations with qualified buyers from each of the markets September 9-13, 2013. For more information see the informational flyer.  If you are interested in participating in these events, print the application form, complete, sign, scan and email to Julie Johnson at jjohnson@agr.wa.gov or fax it to 360-902-2089.

USDA Export Promotion Programs 

The US Department of Agricultures Foreign Agricultural Service has a variety of programs, services and information available to assist exporters of food and agriculture products.  For more information contact us office or FAS's website (www.fas.usda.gov) [external link].  Some of the most commonly used programs are:

Market Access Program

WSDA can provide access to various promotional programs and funds under the USDAs Market Access Program (MAP) [external link].   Under the MAP Branded program, companies can receive matching funds for new promotional activities in specific markets.  These activities can include trade show participation, promotional materials, label modifications, market research, etc.  For appropriate expenditures, the MAP program may match up to 50 percent of the cost.  

Another MAP program, the Generic program, provides funds to state departments of agriculture and industry organizations for the generic promotion of a category of products (e.g., frozen vegetables, bakery ingredients, etc.).   These projects are typically conducted with companies from throughout the western US and may include organizing participation at trade shows, conducting technical seminars and tastings, conducting market research, etc.   Any company from the western US may participate in these activities.  The Western US Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) [external link] coordinates these programs for the 13 western states.  

Emerging Markets Program

The Emerging Markets Program [external link] provides funding for technical assistance activities that promote, enhance or expand the export of U.S. agricultural commodities to overseas emerging markets. Technical assistance is defined quite broadly, and includes such activities as feasibility studies, market research, sectorial assessments, orientation visits, specialized training, business workshops, and the like. The emphasis of the program is market development, both long-term and short-term. 

Cochran Fellowship Program

The Cochran Fellowship Program [external link] is a USDA program that brings key people from developing markets to the US to teach them about our products, our food production, manufacturing and distribution system and how they might used US products in their markets.  It assists eligible countries to develop agricultural systems necessary to meet the food needs of their domestic populations and enhances trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States.

JETRO

In addition to these programs, WSDA works closely with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) [external link] to promote the export of Washington products to Japan.  JETRO has many export assistance tools and access to market information.  They also assign a senior trading company official to Washington State as the JETRO Senior Trade Advisor to work directly with Washington companies.  The Senior Trade Advisor is located in the Seattle offices of the Department of Commerce (26^th Fl., Westin Building, 2001 Sixth Avenue, Seattle) and can be reached at (206) 256-6100.

[Top of Page]