State Programs and Food Exports

State Departments of Agriculture
Each State Department of Agriculture has programs that are ideal for food start-ups in their state. They also are involved with the recruitment of other food manufacturers to relocate to their state as well.

A ‘Made in State’ Program
A number of states have programs where there is a specific website that promotes those brands that are manufactured within that state.

  • Made in State Seals: A seal is created that highlights the products made within the state (put on products, websites, store sections and marketing efforts.
  • In-State Trade Events: Trade shows for brands and retail customers within the state.
  • In-State Consumer Events: Similar to above but for consumers based in that state.
  • In-Store Sections: The creation of “Made in State” sections in retailers within that state.
  • Exporting Services: In partnership with the government programs promoting state based brands internationally.
  • Co-Packer Lists: A list of co-packers within the state.
  • Incubator Programs: Access to state based programs.

US Map of State Department of Agriculture Programs
Click on each state to learn more about the State Department of Agriculture programs based there as well any other related promotion programs (non-profit, for profit and state based):

Food Exports
We created FoodExports.org to be an informational resource for start-up and regional consumer product brands wanting to explore doing business overseas. Our own international business we have product being sold in over 85 countries worldwide. One of our founders was based internationally with the largest CPG business in the world in markets such as Switzerland, Malaysia, China, South Africa, Turkey, Australia, Brazil and Chile.

State Regional Trade Groups
There are four non-profit State Regional Trade Groups (SRTG) that help small U.S. companies build global businesses. This is achieved through various programs designed to educate companies on exporting fundamentals as well as assist them in identifying prospective distributors and additional business opportunities overseas. These programs are funded through the Market Access Program.

MAP helps producers, exporters, private companies, and other trade organizations finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products. MAP provides companies with up to 50 percent reimbursement for international marketing expenses. Eligible marketing activities most commonly include trade show participation, advertising, in-store demonstrations, consumer or retailer educational seminars, and product label compliance. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
Source:  Wikipedia

The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is composed of the Departments of Agriculture of 15 states in the southern United States plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
SUSTA helps small companies in the Southern United States promote value-added U.S. food and agricultural products to foreign markets.
Through the Market Access Program, the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service partners with SUSTA and small businesses to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products.
Source:  Wikipedia


The Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) – is a non-profit trade association whose members are the thirteen western state departments of agriculture with a mission to support and assist members and agribusinesses in the thirteen Western States in developing and enhancing international markets for U.S. food and agricultural products.
They are an independent non-profit that utilizes its close ties with its Member States and the USDA to provide a broad bandwidth of resources.  All together, they can help you achieve your agribusiness and packaged foods exporting goals.

The Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (Food Export-Midwest) and Food Export USA-Northeast (Food Export-Northeast) are non-profit organizations composed of 22 Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to help U.S. suppliers increase product sales overseas.  Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.
Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast offer a variety of programs and services to help grow exports of value-added food and agricultural products in many markets worldwide.