From March 24 to March 29, 2024, the Western American Agricultural Trade Association successfully held the 2024 Washington State Selected Food Exhibition and Media Promotion Conference in Beijing and Shanghai, sharing and showcasing the rich and diverse agricultural products and their development status in Washington State, providing ample opportunities for exchanges and communication between participating traders and media, with more than 160 traders and more than 40 media attending the event, and the response was enthusiastic.
As a major country in agricultural products, the United States has always been committed to bringing consumers a rich and diverse food experience. The U.S. state of Washington is one of the leaders in its agricultural industry, with the state's agricultural industry achieving $7.52 billion in exports in 2023.
Nine brands from Washington State in the United States will focus on imported agricultural products, covering high-quality products in different fields, including seafood, dried fruits, dairy products, condiments, beverages and alcohol. Traders and media attending the event have expressed that they are very happy to have this rare opportunity to have a deeper understanding of Huazhou's outstanding enterprises and diverse products, the event is wonderful, the highlights are numerous, and they hope to participate in more similar activities in the future, information exchange, win-win cooperation, and create opportunities to introduce Huazhou's agricultural products into the Chinese market.
Located on the edge of the northwestern United States, Washington State is a treasure trove of agricultural products due to its ideal climate, moderate temperature difference between day and night, stable water supply, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil. The diverse climate and geography that support the production of more than 300 crops, whether fruit or seafood, are grown in Washington State with a global reputation for superior quality and value.
The successful holding of the Washington State Selected Food Exhibition and Media Tasting not only opened up new markets for Washington State's agricultural products, but also promoted exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States in the field of agricultural trade, allowing Chinese traders and media to have a deeper understanding of Washington State's agricultural products, expanding the influence of Washington State agricultural products enterprises in China, and helping to promote the products and brand awareness of related enterprises, and building more opportunities for domestic traders to build cooperative relations.
The event was supported by the Agricultural Trade Section of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, with Mr. Chris Frederick, Director of the Agricultural Trade Section of the U.S. Embassy in China, and Mr. Adam Branson, Senior Agricultural Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
Mr. Chris Frederick, Director, Agricultural Trade Section, U.S. Embassy in China
Mr. Adam Branson, Senior Agricultural Attaché, U.S. Embassy in China
Mr. Ted Shibata, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Trade Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, attended the event and delivered a speech.
Mr. Ted Shibata, Deputy Director, Agricultural Trade Section, U.S. Consulate General Shanghai
Ms. Elisa Daun, International Trade Commissioner of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, came to China and attended the event, shared the overview of the agricultural development of Washington State for the guests, and introduced the nine American agricultural products companies participating in the event.
Ms. Elisa Daun, Commissioner for International Trade, Washington State Department of Agriculture
In order to further appreciate the high-quality agricultural products of Washington State, the invited chef performed a variety of delicacies on the spot, such as Washington State Cheesecake, Butter Chicken with Flowing Cheese Bread, Geoduck Tartar, Strawberry Puffs, Milk Cheese Jelly and other dishes.
Dairy companies participating in the event include Darigold and Talmera USA Inc. Darigold is the fifth-largest dairy cooperative in the U.S., with exports to more than 50 countries, including cheese, liquid milk and milk powder. Talmera USA Inc. is a multi-service conglomerate that provides a one-stop dairy supply for the food and beverage industry, with a focus on cream and cheese.
Seafood companies include Net Venture Farms, known for its 100% natural Pacific geoducks, which are rich in nutrients and provide consumers with high-quality options. In the food processing industry, Pacific Valley Foods Inc. focused on supplying industrial dehydrated potatoes, popcorn, tortillas and other products to Pacific Rim countries, while Royal Ridge Fruits, a fruit processing company, showcased its main products including quick-frozen fruits.
Beverage companies include World Kombucha and Shoukang Health. World Kombucha is a leading promoter of kombucha culture, dedicated to promoting kombucha culture and bringing consumers a healthy and delicious beverage experience. Shoukang Health is focused on making new beverages with proven herbal supplements, including various medicinal teas. In terms of wine companies, RM Wineries is a company dedicated to producing world-class Washington State wines, driving consumer awareness of the region's wines and unlocking the potential of Washington State wines.
In addition, De Mars' LLC, as an outstanding representative of the gourmet condiment industry, also brought its star product, Hot Rooster Sauce, and showed Chinese traders their eagerness to cooperate in the future, hoping to jointly explore the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Hot Rooster Sauce is unique in that its olive oil base pays homage to traditional cooking methods and ensures a silky mouthfeel that brings a subtle burst of flavour to each dish and adds infinite flavour to the kitchen.
The Western United States Agricultural Trade Association, also known as WUSATA, is a not-for-profit trade association that serves as a bridge between international buyers and food and agriculture manufacturers in the 13 western states of the United States, as well as departments in Guam and the American Samoa Territories. Member states include Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Through the 2024 Washington State Selected Food Exhibition, it not only promotes the exchange and development opportunities of China-US agricultural trade, but also injects new vitality and impetus into the sustainable growth of the Sino-US economy, and promises a beautiful vision for broader cooperation and win-win cooperation in the future.