Virtual meetings will allow exporters to explore business opportunities, learn about new markets, network, and show off products to buyers, the release says. OTA’s International Trade team will arrange one-on-one virtual meetings with buyers from Asia, Europe, and the Gulf Region. The meetings are designed along the lines of the Buyer’s Missions generally held at Natural Products Expo West and Expo East.
OTA is providing two separate trade mission activities:
- Organic Produce Trade Mission, for growers and exporters of organic produce with buyers from across Asia, will take place September 1 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. All invited buyers are coming from markets that were in the top ten export markets for U.S.-grown produce. Register here by August 14 to participate.
- Organic Processed Products Trade Mission, wherein processed product makers and exporters can connect with buyers. On September 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, exporters can connect with buyers from Europe and the United Arab Emirates; on September 23 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, buyers from Asia will join. Register here by August 14 to participate.
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The registration fee is $75 per company per event. Participants will receive buyer profiles of participating companies prior to meetings.“These virtual meetings are designed to help U.S. organic companies generate new international business without having to get on a plane. While they can’t take the place of face-to-face meetings, we are excited to provide this new opportunity for companies to grow their presence overseas in the absence of in-person trade events, as we all pivot to new ways of safely doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alexis Carey, Manager of International Trade for the Organic Trade Association.
These activities are funded by the USDA Market Access Program, and are thus open to the entire organic industry.
