United Kingdom (July 12-16, 2021)
Australia/New Zealand (July 26, 2021)
Hong Kong (August 9-13, 2021)India (August 23-27, 2021)
The Taste of California Specialty Crop Showcase is a virtual trade show designed to assist California specialty crop producers, large and small, connect with international food and agricultural industry executives throughout the world, 365-days/year, 24/7. The Showcase has taken the intuitive nature of exhibitions and made it practical and accessible – right on your desktop. No matter where you are on the platform, you are never more than two clicks away from connecting with the person(s) focused on your products – in every imaginable communications medium anywhere in the world.
Over 2,000 industry professionals are projected to visit the platform over the course of one year.
The first 40 exhibitors will also have the opportunity, at no additional charge, to participate in one-on-one Virtual Buyer Meetings focusing on the UK (Week of July 12); Australia (Week of July 26); Hong Kong (Week of August 9) and India (Week of Aug 23). Each Virtual Buyer Meeting Event will provide up to 3 individual meetings per company.
Participation Benefits:
- Customized virtual Taste of California Exhibition booth. California has partnered with Kallman Worldwide, a company with 58 years of experience in supporting U.S. companies at trade shows on every continent. (Yearlong exhibition and promotion).
- Virtual Buyer Meetings in Four Markets for the first 40 company registrations. Other opportunities available in Winter/Spring for companies not included in the first series of Meetings.
- Built in mechanism for requesting, and facilitating, face-to-face online meetings with potential customers and representatives.
- Allows California exporters a cost-efficient way to gain global exposure.
- International buyers worldwide directed to the Taste of California Showcase through the assistance of Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in US Embassies and consulates around the globe.
All participants in the virtual showcase receive the following benefits for a period of one year:
- One “virtual booth” in the Taste of California Showcase for a full year. Your “Booth” can be enhanced with product listings and photos, video, spec sheets – etc. – just as you might have at a “physical” tradeshow, as well as hyperlinked directly to your company website.
- The booth can be virtually “staffed” at particular times through online “chat” and face-to-face video calling functions, or be solely available “offline” for e-mail, telephone or other types of direct inquiries. You will receive an automatic notification anytime a visitor enters your booth, giving you the option to respond immediately in real time, or next time you have the opportunity. The choice is yours!
- Your product(s) to be included in the “show listing”, where you can choose from a selection of “tags” or use any keywords you like, all of which are searchable by international buyers – increasing your visibility through the platform.
- Use of Showcase “networking” platform to virtually “meet and greet” visiting foreign buyers LIVE.
- Access to the Forum Conference Center where we will be running live and on demand content, and where you can post your own informational videos, cooking demonstrations, facility tours, or other content you want to share with the world.
SUITABLE CALIFORNIA* PRODUCTS INCLUDE:
- Tree Fruits and Vegetables
- Apples, Pomegranates and Grapes
- Bulk Dried Fruits
- Bulk Nuts, e.g. Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, etc.
- Dates, Honey, and more!
- Consumer-Oriented Products, e.g. jams, wine, sauces, etc.**
*Only California companies with specialty crop products, as defined by USDA AMS and grown in California, can participate.
**Consumer-oriented products must consist of 50% or more of approved California specialty crop(s) excluding water.
Program Partners:
DATES:
- Full Year, running through 06/30/22: 24/7 – 365 days a year (Digital Showcase)
VIRTUAL BUYER MEETINGS:
- 07/12/21: United Kingdom (Digital Trade Mission)
- 07/26/21: Australia (Digital Trade Mission
- 08/09/21: Hong Kong (Digital Trade Mission)
- 08/23/21: India (Digital Trade Mission)
LOCATION:
Online – Virtual Trade Show Platform
COST:
$125 – Qualified CA Specialty Crop Company ($3,250 Retail Value)
$500 – After June 30, 2021
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION (All conditions must be met)
- Business must be based in California
- In business at least 1 year
- Have a qualified specialty crop product, as defined by USDA, that can be exported (includes processed food products that are made up of 50% or more of a CA specialty crop – excluding the water, e.g. wine, jelly, canned peaches, etc.)
- Product(s) grown and produced in California
(Specialty Crops as defined by USDA AMS)
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Center for International Trade Development, State Center Community College District
- Frank M. Nuñez | 559-243-7281 | frank.nunez@scccd.edu
- Rebecca Boyd | 559-243-7532 | rebecca.boyd@scccd.edu
FUNDING SOURCE
A Taste of California Specialty Crop Showcase is funded by the 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant program, and is presented by the Center for International Trade Development, State Center Community College District in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
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