Calendar of Events and Promotions

2008  

JUNE

5-6
Taiwan Foodservice Inbound, Idaho
A group of foodservice importers and distributors will be visiting Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. They will be meeting with interested Idaho companies. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Taiwan market in a low cost, low risk avenue. For more information contact Lacey Menasco.

 23-24
Southeast Asia Food Ingredients Inbound Buying Mission, Idaho
 A group of food ingredient buyers and distributors from Southeast Asia will be visiting Idaho and Nevada. Idaho companies will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with qualified food ingredient buyers on June 23 and 24. This is a great way to learn more about the Southeast Asian markets and develop buyer contacts. For more information or to participate contact Amanda Albers.

JULY
15-16 Macau Foodservice Inbound, Idaho
A group of foodservice importers and distributors will be visiting Idaho and Nevada. They will be meeting with Idaho companies that are interested in doing business in the Macau market. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Macau market in a low cost, low risk way. For more information contact Lacey Menasco.

21-25
WUSATA Trade Mission, Hotel & Restaurant Industry Trade Show and Chef Competitions in Baja California and Los Cabos
 Join in this rapidly growing market. Baja California, Mexico is the destination of choice for many U.S. tourists. These tourists want high quality foods while on vacations. Importers are searching for new products, hotels and restaurants are looking for new ways to spice up their menus. This activity starts by visiting prequalified importers in Tijuana and Mexicali. Companies will have one-on-one appointments with these importers. Next, participating companies will travel to Los Cabos to take part in a Hotel & Restaurant trade show. They will have the opportunity to talk with hotel & restaurant chefs and buyers directly. Last, there will be a chef competition. The competing chefs will attend classes demonstrating the participating company’s product and new uses. For more information or to participate please contact Jerry Ward.

 31
WUSATA Branded Program Seminar, Boise , ID
The Western US Agriculture Trade Association (WUSATA) and ISDA will be holding a seminar on the WUSATA Branded Program. The WUSATA Branded Program is a matching funds program that supports the promotion of branded food and agricultural products in foreign markets. Companies currently participating in the Branded Program and any companies interested in learning more about the program are invited to attend. For more information or to participate contact Amanda Albers.

 AUGUST

13-17
Tri- National Agricultural Accord, Coeur d’ Alene , Idaho
Idaho will host the annual Tri-National Accord, a high-level meeting of agricultural officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The meeting will address trade policy and harmonization issues of concern to the three countries.

Late August/TBD Shanghai (China) Trade Office Director Visit to Idaho
Dr. Guoli Cao, Director of the Idaho-Shanghai Trade Office, will be in Idaho consulting one-on-one with companies throughout the state on expanding export business to China. Contact Amanda Albers to schedule an appointment with Guoli.

Late August/TBD Taiwan Trade Office Director Visit to Idaho
Eddie Yen , Director of the Idaho-Taiwan Trade Office, will be in Idaho consulting one-on-one with companies throughout the state on expanding export business to Taiwan. Contact Lacey Menasco to schedule an appointment with Eddie.

SEPTEMBER

6
Taste of Idaho, Boise ID
The fourth annual Taste of Idaho will be held Saturday, September 6, 2008
at the Qwest Arena. Great Idaho food and wine will be available to sample and purchase, local chefs will vie for prizes in a culinary competition featuring local foods and Idaho Magazine Recipe contestants will demonstrate their winning recipes. Come taste the best Idaho has to offer! For information contact Leah Clark .

24-26
Great American Culinary Camp – Seoul 2008, Seoul , Korea
The Western US Agriculture Trade Association (WUSATA) and ISDA in conjunction with the Agricultural Trade Office in Seoul Korea will host a menu seminar for chefs and purchasing managers that will be jointly organized with leading local importers of US foodservice products. The seminar will educate decision makers in the local restaurant industry about the variety, quality and uses of Western US products. This seminar provides Idaho companies an opportunity to showcase new to market or existing products to qualified buyers in the Korean market. For more information or to participate contact Amanda Albers

OCTOBER
17-Nov. 4

Taiwan Menu Promotion*, Taiwan
The Idaho Department of Agriculture together with WUSATA will sponsor a menu promotion in Taiwan.  An Idaho chef will travel to Taiwan for the purpose of training chefs in the preparation of Western U.S. products for the restaurants’ menus.

TBD Macau Chef Competition*, Macau , China
A chef competition will be held in Macau for the chef’s in the high-end hotels and restaurants. The competition will feature food ingredients from the Western US. Company are welcome to sign up for this promotion. There is no cost for participation beside the donation of the product. For more information contact Lacey Menasco.

FEBRUARY, 2009
23-24

Larry A. Brannen Idaho Ag Summit – Boise, Idaho
This annual event includes educational workshops, a legislative strolling supper, and a Governor’s Awards Luncheon for Excellence in Agriculture. Each year, the Ag Summit brings together Idaho’s leaders in Agriculture to discuss relevant issues and to discuss future challenges.

Pre-Conference AgTC Transportation Workshop , Boise, Idaho
The Larry A. Brannen Idaho Ag Summit will include a Pre-Conference Workshop on transportation co-sponsored with the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. Agricultural shippers, commission and association members, exporters, distributors and private companies are all invited to attend to discuss rail, truck and ocean transportation issues in agriculture.

 For more information:

Laura Johnson 208-332-8533 or email at ljohnson@agri.idaho.gov
Jerry Ward 208-332-8537 or email at jward@agri.idaho.gov
Lacey Menasco 208-332-8538 or email at lmenasco@agri.idaho.gov
Leah Clark 208-332-8684 or email at lclark@agri.idaho.gov
Amanda Albers 208-332-8678 or email at aalbers@agri.idaho.gov
 Kim Polzin 208-332-8532 or email at kpolzin@agri.idaho.gov

* WUSATA, Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association