The following events are being planned by the Montana Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association. These activities are supported with funds from the USDA's Market Access Program (MAP).

Inbound Trade Missions

Conveniently held in Montana or a neighboring state, these activities bring premier buyers to our Montana companies for one-on-one product promotion meetings. They can also include facility tours and special events designed to enhance the buyer-supplier relationship.

Outbound Trade Missions

Participants are provided the opportunity to travel abroad to meet one-on-one with qualified foreign buyers. These buying missions allow companies to grow their market share and promote brand awareness. At the same time, companies learn about the foreign region, which includes retail and food service tours and in-country market intelligence.

Other Opportunities

Connect with foreign buyers and distributors through trade leads, and In-Store and Menu Promotions, which help companies increase their foreign product market awareness. In additon, companies can gain insightful market knowledge through seminars and webinars.

If you are interested in exporting to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, ASEAN or Europe, please contact Linda Howard to begin preparing for these events. 

Explore Exporting and Branded Program Workshop

June 18, 2013 - Missoula

Start-up or expand your sales by tapping into the 95.5% of consumers living outside the USA. Food exports are a shining spot in the economy, and the studies show small businesses are playing a leading role. Come learn how to find the customers, qualify them, and make an export sale as safe and easy as domestic business, as explained by industry experts. Seminar participants will also learn how to double their international marketing budget through WUSATA's Branded Program. Action steps will be clearly laid out and follow-up assitance will be made available. There will be a registration of fee of $25 which includes lunch. Registration is now open for this event.

Taiwan Inbound Trade Mission

July 8-9, 2013 - Missoula and Great Falls

Taiwanese buyers of healthy, organic, and natural products will visit Montana in July to meet with interested sellers of retail ready products. One-on-one meetings between sellers and buyers will be held in Missoula on July 8 and Great Falls on July 9. Registration for this event is open now. 

Canada Inbound Trade Mission

August 13-14, 2013 - Kalispell and Missoula

Canadian buyers of healthy, organic, and natural products will visit Montana in August to meet with interested sellers of retail ready products.  One-on-one meetings between sellers and buyers will be held in Kalispell on August 13 and Missoula on August 14. Registration is now open for this event. 

Mexico In-Store Promotion

August and September 2013

Companies with retail products ready to export to Mexico will have the opportunity to participate in this in-store promotion. Selected products will be displayed and demonstrated in key retail locations. Registration for the 2013 event is closed, but it will be repeated in 2014. 

Food Ingredients Asia Trade Show

September 11-13, 2013  - Bangkok, Thailand

Southeast Asian countries have a growing demand for ingredients used in processing foods. The Food Ingredients Asia trade show brings together food ingredient suppliers with thousands of buyers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries. The WUSATA section of this trade show is located in a USA Pavillion and is supported by the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service and the U.S. Embassy. Registration for this event is open now.