Marketing Resources

The WSDA International Marketing Program connects Washington food and agriculture companies with potential buyers, provides market information and assistance with export requirements, and helps companies promote their products internationally. WSDA trade specialists are based across Washington and WSDA in-market representatives are located throughout the world. See program contacts for details, including countries of coverage and contact information.

Interview with Susie Jensen, Wheel Line Cider

The following resources were created by WSDA staff, in-market representatives, or other contractors: 

The USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has a variety of programs, services and information available to assist exporters of food and agriculture products. For more information contact our office or the FAS website (www.fas.usda.gov). Some of the most commonly used programs are:

MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM
WSDA can provide access to various promotional programs and funds under the USDA's Market Access Program (MAP). Under the MAP FundMatch 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 fifty percent of the cost. 

Another MAP program, the Global Connect program, provides funds to state departments of agriculture and industry organizations for the 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 U.S. may participate in these activities. The Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) coordinates these programs for the 13 western states.

EMERGING MARKETS PROGRAM
The Emerging Markets Program 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, sectoral 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 is a USDA program that brings key people from developing markets to the U.S. to teach them about our products, our food production, manufacturing and distribution system and how they might used U.S. 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.

In addition to these programs, WSDA works closely with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) 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 can be reached at (206) 256-6100.