NASDA To Co-Locate U.S. Food Export Showcase With Specialty And Organic Events In 2008
News Date February 26, 2007
NASDA has announced that it will co-locate the U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) in Chicago in 2008. Together with the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc.'s (NASFT) Fancy Food Show and the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) All Things Organic , the co-location will create the largest display of specialty, ethnic, artisanal, natural, organic, and American-made, ready-to-export food products in the U.S. The event, scheduled for April 27 to 29, 2008, at McCormick Place, is expected to draw large delegations of food buyers from North America and around the world.
"The partnership with NASFT and OTA will produce a world-class event that will benefit food buyers in the global retail and specialty industries," explained NASDA's Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Richard W. Kirchhoff. "With the committed support NASDA has obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the show participants will include the best America has to offer in packaged and ready-to-eat food products," said Kirchhoff. "Chicago is an ideal location for this event." Ann Daw, president, NASFT, added, "We are pleased to further develop our relationship with NASDA and OTA, creating a world-class event worthy of Chicago."
The U.S. Food Export Showcase is designed to help small- and mid-size food manufacturers tap into the growth potential of international markets. NASDA will work closely with its members, the four affiliated state regional trade groups (Food Export Association of the Midwest, Food Export USA - Northeast, Southern U.S. Trade Association, and the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association) and FAS to offer food industry entrepreneurs an affordable way to reach food buyers from around the world.
For information on attending or exhibiting at the U.S. Food Export Showcase in Chicago's McCormick Place, go to http://www.nasdatradeshows.org.
Established in 1952, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT) is the only U.S. trade association representing all segments of the specialty food industry. Today, there are 2,500 members that produce nearly 180,000 specialty food products. The NASFT is the owner and operator of three Fancy Food Shows, and is the publisher of Specialty Food Magazine, which reaches 30,100 trade professionals and Specialty Food News, an electronic newsletter with 47,000 readers; and hosts http://www.specialtyfood.com and http://www.specialtyfoodmarket.com. For more information on the Fancy Food Show, visit http://www.fancyfoodshows.com.
The mission of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. OTA envisions organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people's lives and the environment. As a membership-based business association, the OTA focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA's 1,700 members include farmers, processors, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers, certifiers, and more. For further information, visit OTA's website at http://www.ota.com. For more information on All Things Organic, visit http://www.organicexpo.com. (Contact: DeWitt Ashby)