Colorado Department of Agriculture Uses Technology to Connect Colorado Producers with Israeli Buyers

With tough economic times, travelling across the globe may not be an option for Colorado companies interested in selling products to buyers in Israel. However, with the power of new technology, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is connecting producers with buyers from around the world.

In March several Colorado companies gathered in a conference room to meet food buyers from Israel, not in person, but through a webinar. Representatives from Colorado companies talked to buyers in Israel through a computer link that included presentations and Israeli store pictures. One Colorado company even accessed the presentation from South America while he was on a buying trip. This seminar was the first step in connecting Colorado producers with supermarket buyers in Israel.

Now that the foundation has been laid, it is time to get Colorado products to buyers to sample. In April and May the Colorado Department of Agriculture will coordinate efforts to ship products to Israel for a product showcase.

Companies are first asked to have their products and company included in a list of products to be reviewed by the USDA team in Israel. The team will review products and gauge interest from importers.
Companies will then ship products to Israel for a showcase to importers. CDA will arrange shipping via U.S. Embassy mailing address allowing producers to ship samples at domestic postage rates.

Finally, companies will attend the Video Center sampling. Producers will be in Denver on a video connection while the importers and USDA staff are in Tel Aviv sampling products.

“Thanks to the age of technology, producers can export their products without having to travel to foreign countries; this helps Colorado producers and consumers in Israel,” said Tim Larsen, CDA’s International Marketing Specialist. “You can have your products shown to top Israeli food importers while you are in a Colorado studio watching their reaction and talking to them about your products!”

Despite of the global economic slowdown, agricultural and food imports to Israel in 2008 increased 30% compared 2007 (from $3.4 billion to $4.4 billion), $1.81 billion (41%) were food and beverages products. In addition, the depreciating U.S. dollar combined with good economic growth in Israel has increased the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture and stimulated demand for American food and agricultural products.

Colorado’s processed food exports grew over 36 percent in the past two years, and many of Colorado’s products match the list of best export prospects from the USDA staff in Israel. In 2008, agricultural and food imports to Israel from the U.S. increased 30 percent to a total of $1.81 billion. While there is a small market for non-kosher items, those certified as kosher make up 60-70 percent of the Israeli market.