Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are excited to announce the dates for the Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission – a two city flagship event. The first stop will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan, followed by Boston, Massachusetts. 

The event will allow the small- and medium-sized food and agricultural companies Food Export represents to meet with more than a dozen qualified buyers from across the globe during one-on-one sessions. Buyers from Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Panama, Spain, Taiwan, and Vietnam are currently confirmed to attend. 

“The buyers participating in these two events come with high buying power and a broad range of interest in importing U.S. products,” Brendan Wilson, Food Export CEO and Executive Director, said.   

Buyers will get a chance to experience the Midwest and the Northeast and meet suppliers with products from Food Export’s regions. 

“We worked closely with our members at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop the event in Grand Rapids. Its reputation as a destination for foodies made it enticing. Grand Rapids is considered the nation’s Craft Beverage Capital and a Top 20 U.S. Foodie City. Bringing buyers and suppliers to a Midwest area that loves and produces food seemed like a natural fit,” Wilson said.  

“Massachusetts is the oldest of the original 13 colonies in the Northeast. Boston is close to some of the best fisheries in our region. It is a wonderful representation of the Northeast, plus its proximity to Logan International Airport makes it attractive to buyers heading home after the Buyers Mission. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has been instrumental in helping Food Export with prior Buyers Missions and events. We are fortunate to have strong support from our 23 member states,” Teresa Miller, Food Export Chief Program & Partnership Officer, said. 

The Buyers Missions will be in Grand Rapids on July 29 and 30, 2024, and in Boston on July 31 and August 1, 2024.  

“Suppliers from our 13 Midwest states and 10 Northeast states can attend the Buyers Mission in either location. If the Northeast date works better for you, please come to that one. If the Midwest location is easier for you to get to, please join us on those days,” Miller said.  

According to Wilson, products of interest include retail and foodservice products, private label, fresh/organic/healthy food, sweet and savory snacks, frozen/chilled products, specialty gourmet, pet food, and food ingredients. 

This mission is a standalone, flagship event of Food Export that does not take place in conjunction with a trade show. Suppliers at the Buyers Mission will position themselves and their products in front of pre-qualified, experienced international buyers who continue to seek the latest food trends and products from the United States.  

“This is our signature event of the year. We hope it continues to grow and becomes a favorite event among buyers and suppliers,” Wilson said. 

In addition to the buyers, several of Food Export’s In-Market Representatives will be present to meet with suppliers interested in learning more about a specific market or country. Staff from several State Departments of Agriculture as well as Food Export staff will be present for on-site assistance. A networking event for all participants is included in the program. 

In the past, Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast held separate missions in three cities each and during different times of the year. To meet the needs of suppliers and buyers, Food Export combined the two missions into one premier event – Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission.  

To register, visit 2024 Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission – Grand Rapids at https://www.foodexport.org/events/market-entry/buyers-missions/g24sum/ or 2024 Summer in the Cities Buyers Mission – Boston at https://www.foodexport.org/events/market-entry/buyers-missions/m24sum/.  

For more information, suppliers are encouraged to reach out to their state’s Liaison.