Cozy Harbor Seafood Inc., based in Portland, Maine, is the oldest and most experienced lobster processor in the United States. Founded in 1980, the company has built a strong reputation both domestically and internationally as a trusted source for high-quality seafood products from Maine. Cozy Harbor specializes in premium frozen lobster and local ground fish, and operates year-round to deliver the best of Maine’s seafood. Their commitment to quality, safety, and service is demonstrated through certifications from the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the USDC, FDA, and other third-party audits.

Since 2004, Cozy Harbor has leveraged Food Export–Northeast programs to expand its international reach. Over the past two decades, the company has taken part in Buyers Missions, Food Show PLUS!™ services, webinars, the Online Product Catalog, and the Market Access Program-funded Branded Program.

A key success came in 2021, when Cozy Harbor utilized Food Export’s Online Product Catalog to increase global visibility. This free service allows registered suppliers to showcase their full line of export-ready products to qualified international buyers. By following up on a lead received through the catalog, Cozy Harbor secured $52,000 in sales to Singapore, with projected sales of $225,000. They also initiated contact with 20 new foreign buyers and established one new distributorship.

Another recent highlight includes their participation in Food Export–Northeast’s “Raise Your Market Intelligence” event at Seafood Expo North America. Cozy Harbor met with buyers and Food Export’s In-Market Representatives from Europe, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. These meetings led to new agent relationships and first-time sales of American lobster to Germany ($38,400) and Singapore ($21,436). The company also projects $250,000 in additional seafood exports over the next 12 months as a direct result of these new connections.

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.