Every year Food Export - Midwest brings several delegations of international buyers to the Midwest to meet with hundreds of Midwest suppliers.  These buyers usually travel to the Midwest in conjunction with a major U.S. trade show.  These events give you the chance to have face-to-face meetings with pre-qualified international buyers, without the time and expense of having to exhibit at trade shows or travel half way around the world.

The International Marketing Program staff can arrange for you to meet one-on-one with these buyers either in Michigan or at other Midwest or Northeast locations.

Why Participate?

Participating in Buyers Missions is a great way to:

• Get live feedback about your product's exporting potential.
• Learn a great amount of information about a foreign market and how business is conducted there.
• Start building relationships with key industry buyers.

Follow the link for an updated schedule of Buyers' Missions at Upcoming Events: Trade Shows, Buyers' Missions and Food Show Plus! Services Information. For more information as well as a schedule of buyers missions, please follow this link to Food Export-Midwest's Buyers Missions page.

Michigan Pavilions at U.S. Trade Shows

The International Marketing Program and Food Export-Midwest offer discounted space at Michigan pavilions for key trade shows in the United States:

NRA (National Restaurant Association) Show: The International Marketing Program organizes a Michigan pavilion at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, which is held annually in Chicago, IL. We offer exhibitors in the Michigan pavilion a discounted booth through the International Marketing Program.

America's Food and Beverage Show: The Michigan Department of Agriculture will again have a Michigan Pavilion for companies selling products utilizing specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, dry beans, honey, maple syrup, herbs, etc.) at the American Food & Beverage Show. The show takes place in Miami, Florida from November 14-15, 2011.

For more information about Michigan pavilions at domestic trade shows, please contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at (517) 241-3628 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov.