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.

Colorado’s Beef Exports Make History

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The beef industry is the largest segment of Colorado’s agricultural industry, accounting for more than half the State’s total cash receipts from livestock and crop production.

Although industry profitability has been under pressure due to high production costs and lower market prices, exports continue to be a bright spot for the beef industry, with exports of beef and beef variety meats from Colorado reaching a record high of $497 million in 2008. In fact, current levels of beef exports from Colorado have, for the first time, exceeded levels reached prior to the closure of most major markets to U.S. beef in 2003 following the discovery of BSE in the US herd.

“Exports help generate added revenues to the industry. Some cuts and products are purchased by customers in international markets at prices higher than could otherwise be received in the US,” said CDA’s markets division director, Tom Lipetzky.

According to the most recent 2008 statistics:

·Exports of beef and beef variety meats from Colorado surged 55 percent from
2007 levels to $497 million. Total US exports increased 42 percent to just
over $3 billion.
·Colorado ranks second among all states in total exports of
fresh chilled beef and third among all states in total exports of beef and beef
variety meats.
·Colorado is the number one supplier of beef and beef variety
meats to Canada and the number two supplier to Mexico and Japan.
·Colorado was the number one supplier of fresh chilled beef to Korea.

“Potential for future growth in exports remains quite positive as Korean consumers are again welcoming US beef and a full opening of Japan’s market could add significantly to exports,” continued Lipetzky. “More and more, it’s looking like its Colorado beef that is what’s for dinner for customers around the world.”

For additional information and statistics, visit www.colorado.gov/ag and click on “Colorado Beef Exports.”

Colorado has become a leader in the beef industry on the global level and that is a reflection of our beef producers. The following information has been provided by Colorado’s beef industry organizations.

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA)

“A key ingredient for the beef industry in working our way out of these trying
economic times is to open new export markets for our product,” said CCA
President Paul Bernklau. “World food supplies will be in tight demand by 2012
and beef producers should be empowered to provide our safe, nutritious, and
readily available product to those country’s through expansion of
trade.”

Website: http://www.coloradocattle.org/
Contact
information: Amy Bader, Director of Communications, (303) 431-6422 or
email info@coloradocattle.org

Colorado Livestock Association (CLA)

“This past years increase in beef exports is directly correlated to the worlds
demand for the high quality, nutritional and wholesome beef products that are
produced in Colorado’s ranching, feeding and packing industries,” said Colorado
Livestock Association CEO, Bill Hammerich.

Website: http://www.coloradolivestock.org/
Contact information: Bill Hammerich, 822 7th Street, Suite 210, Greeley, CO
80631, bhammerich@coloradolivestock.org,
(970) 378-0500

Colorado Beef Council

“As demand for high quality beef increases throughout the world our exports
should, and will, continue to grow. Consumers outside of the United States are
looking for a safe, wholesome and nutritious product and will continue to turn
to U.S. beef,” said Colorado Beef Council Executive Director, Fred
Lombardi.

Website: http://www.cobeef.com/
Contact information:
Fred Lombardi, 789 Sherman Street, Suite 105, Denver, CO or call (303)
830-7892

Cattle Industry Leaders Discuss the Largest Trading Relationship in the World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2009
Contacts: Christi Lightcap, Colorado Department of Agriculture, (303) 239-4190
Jennifer Cook, Consulate General of Canada, (303) 589-8782

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Consulate General of Canada in Denver hosted a roundtable to discuss local and international issues facing today’s cattle industry.

Nearly 50 industry leaders and students gathered on Sunday, January 18, 2009, at the National Western Stock Show complex. The program was led by Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp and Consul General of Canada Dale Eisler. The dialog covered a variety of cattle-related issues including country-of-origin labeling and air and water quality.

“The movement of live cattle and beef products between the United States and Canada totals nearly $3 billion annually and Colorado’s beef industry plays a major role in that relationship,” said Stulp. “The goal of this roundtable was to discuss challenges facing the cattle industry in both countries in order to continue building on that relationship.”

The consul General echoed the Commissioner’s comments: "The closely integrated Canada-U.S. cattle industry is a key part of our trading relationship. So these kinds of discussions are important to ensuring our economies remain open and strong," said Eisler.

The United States and Canada are each other’s largest trading partners, with total trade between the two countries projected to top $600 billion for 2008.

• In 2007, over one-fifth of total U.S. exported goods went to Canada ($249 billion) and for 36 states, Canada was the #1 destination for exports.
• Total U.S. exports to Canada have risen by more than 150 percent since the enactment of NAFTA in 1994. During this same time, exports of agricultural products from Colorado have grown by more than 300 percent from $81 million to $343.5 million in 2007.
• In 2007, total combined trade of agricultural products between the U.S. and Canada totaled $32.5 billion. Of this amount, exports totaling $343.5 million originated from Colorado, including $125 million in beef.
• For January through November of 2008, Colorado exports of fresh, chilled and frozen beef to Canada are reported at $160 million – a level 48 percent higher than the same period in 2007.

For more on Colorado’s agricultural exports, visit http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1221475092115.

To learn more about the Canada–U.S.A. agriculture trading relationship, visit
www.agr.gc.ca/usadvocacy.
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