USDA announced the delegation for an upcoming agricultural trade mission to Japan, June 5-8. The delegation includes U.S. agriculture businesses, state departments of agriculture, and commodity groups.
The trade mission will be led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor. “As one of the world’s leading economies, Japan is an important market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. It is an incredible honor to lead this delegation as we work to expand our bilateral trade relationship even further,” said Taylor. “I am extremely pleased by the diverse set of businesses in our delegation as we connect many women-, minority-, and veteran-owned U.S. agribusinesses with potential business partners in Japan.”
While in Japan, trade mission participants will engage directly with potential buyers, receive in-depth market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry trade experts, and participate in site visits.
According to USDA, Japan is the fourth-largest market for U.S. food and agricultural exports. In 2022, U.S. exports matched the previous record, totaling $14.6 billion, with exports of soybeans, dairy and other products reaching new highs. Nearly a quarter of all Japan’s food and agricultural imports coming from U.S. exporters.
Taylor will be joined by the following businesses and organizations:
- Aero-Cos International, Marlboro, N.J.
- All Berry & Fruits, Hillsboro, Ore.
- American Commodity Company, LLC, Williams, Calif.
- American Egg Board, Chicago, Ill.
- Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, Seattle, Wash.
- Blue Diamond Growers, Sacramento, Calif.
- Bluet Maine Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine, Scarborough, Maine
- California Olive Committee, Clovis, Calif.
- CraftCadia Distribution, Bellingham, Wash.
- Crazy Go Nuts, Fresno, Calif.
- Dragonberry Produce, Canby, Ore.
- East-West International Group, Inc., Moreland Hills, Ohio
- Fiscalini Farmstead, Modesto, Calif.
- Global Export Marketing Co., Ltd, New York, N.Y.
- Hawaiian Viking Coffee Company, LLC, Captain Cook, Hawaii
- Idaho Potato Commission, Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Kizable, LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Little Toad Creek Distillery, Silver City, N.M.
- Marquis Energy, Hennepin, Ill.
- MCT Dairies, Inc., Chatham, N.J.
- Meinelschmidt Distillery, Hagerstown, Md.
- MEM Fairway Inc., Irvine, Calif.
- National Pork Board, Clive, Iowa
- North America Blueberry Council, Folsom, Calif.
- OG Nut Company, Stockton, Calif.
- Pacific Valley Foods, Inc., Bellevue, Wash.
- Pennington Distilling Co., Nashville, Tenn.
- Red Lake, Inc., Red Lake, Minn.
- Redwood International, Irvine, Calif.
- Sakuma Bros, Burlington, Wash.
- Scenic Fruit Company, Gresham, Ore.
- Space Enterprises LLC, The Woodlands, Texas
- Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance, Mankato, Minn.
- S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
- S. Highbush Blueberry Council, Folsom, Calif.
- S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Mo.
- USA Rice, Arlington, Va.
- Western United States Agricultural Trade Association, Vancouver, Wash.
- Wilbur Packing Co., Inc, Live Oak, Calif.
- Yopun Tea, Kennewick, Wash.
In addition, Taylor will be joined by Idaho State Director of Agriculture Chanel Tewalt, Indiana State Director of Agriculture Don Lamb, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles, Nebraska Director of Agriculture Sherry Vinton, North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture Doug Goehring, and officials from the California, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Washington, and Wisconsin state departments of agriculture.
