Fresh From Florida Ag Export Webinar

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Paul Brooks
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1 Fresh From Florida Ag Export Webinar

2 Why Exporting Complimentary Business Resource An option to market your surplus products Seasonal Availability Supply demand or shortages in other countries Social/Business International Relations Choose a market where you have family, friends or personal references Geographic and Trade Advantages Florida s centric geographic location and advanced shipping availability ensures delivery. Choose countries that have free trade agreements with the U.S.

3 How to Begin Exporting Find a reliable contact in a nearby country (preferably a Caribbean or Central American country so that transportation costs are lower) to assist you in opening your first foreign market and in locating reliable foreign buyers. Research the needs of the country you choose to make sure that your products will sell there. Go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture s Foreign Agricultural Service website at A-Click on Countries and Regions at the top. B-Click on the world map on your country (or near it) and a list of country names will appear. C-Click on your country name. D-To obtain information on the FAS office in your country s U.S. Embassy, click on Country Office. E- To obtain several types of specific reports on your country, click on: Data and Analysis at the top of the page. You will find 4 types of reports on this country: Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN Report), Export Sales Reports (ESR) Reports, Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS) Reports and Production, Supply and Distribution (PS &D) Reports. Read all of them on your country. From them, you can also obtain sales leads (or trade leads ) for buyers in that specific market and what they are looking to buy.

4 How to Begin Exporting Continued Hire a freight forwarder to assist you with the paperwork required to carry out a successful export, which includes your transportation method to that country. One resource is Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association - Check with banks to find a bank that carries out international transactions and deals with export financing for U.S. exporters. Contact the Florida Export Finance Corporation, which will assist you in obtaining export financing - Determine all of the export documents you will need to get your products successfully into your chosen country from your freight forwarder and your international banker such as Bill of Lading, Letter of Credit, and Product Registration in the country, and assign a person in your company to be the person in charge of obtaining all of this paperwork. Contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Elizabeth Gablehouse at Elizabeth.Gablehouse@freshfromflorida.com about the two government documents required to get your products into any foreign port. These include a Certificate of Free Sale, Health and Sanitation from the Division of Food Safety ( ) and a Certificate of Origin and Free Sale from Mrs. Gablehouse ( ).

5 Obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate Prior to obtaining a phytosanitary certificate, you need to determine the eligibility requirements for the destination (state or country). You can do this by contacting your local FDACS Division of Plant Industry district plant inspector. You can find their contact information at Locations. To obtain a phytosanitary certificate, you must first establish an account in the USDA Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance Tracking System (PCIT). The PCIT system is used for submitting applications for both state and federal Phytosanitary Certificates. To set up an account, go to the Welcome to PCIT website - and click on the New to this site? button. You will be prompted on how to establish the account. Once you establish an account with in the PCIT system, you will need to submit an application for a phytosanitary certificate. On the Welcome to PCIT website, click on the option for Create Application without Template. This will take you into the application process.

6 Obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate Continued Click on the appropriate certificate type. This will likely be a PPQ Form 577 (federal phytosanitary certificate for foreign destinations) or a state certificate (for other destinations in U.S. states and territories). Input the appropriate information in the General, Export and Shipping, Commodities and Attachments sections. After entering the information, click on the Submit Application button and the application will be sent to the inspector office that you selected. Upon receipt of the application, the local inspector will contact you to set up a date and time to inspect and certify your plants or plants products. The inspector will provide a phytosanitary certificate to you when the plants/products pass the inspection. The certificate is normally valid for 30 days after the inspection date and the original should accompany the shipment. If you have any questions or need additional information, be sure to contact your FDACS DPI inspector for assistance and guidance.

7 Company Overview Miami Tropical Plants International plant brokerage firm launched in Turn-key service: Sourcing, selecting, locating and shipping plants. History Grew up in nursery industry brother operates Mulvehill Nursery in Delray Beach, FL. Export Market Focus on Canadian market. Customer Base Garden Center s, Landscape Companies, Botanical Gardens, Interiorscapers

8 Miami Tropical Plants Maximizing SUSTA Programs The foundation of our business was built through attending the SUSTA events. We have 14 new customers as a result of attending two trade shows and 2 one-on-one meetings a number of new customers in the works also from attending the events. We usually truck products to Canada. Request list of attendees from the previous year and contact. Use the guest passes to give to potential customers. Let attendees know booth number. Use MAP Branded Program to buy promotional materials to give to potential customers. Use MAP Branded Program to leverage unique product offering.

9 SUSTA The Southern U.S. Trade Association is a regional trade group of the U.S.D.A. It was created to assist U.S. companies based in the Southeast in promoting their U.S. produced agricultural commodities.

10 SUSTA Region

11 Market Access Programs Brand Promotion Direct financial assistance of up to $300,000 per year Promotes your brand internationally Graduation requirement International Marketing Program Events managed by activity managers Subsidized trade mission/event participation Business match-making Chefs/interpreters provided as necessary

12 Brand Promotion Reimburses up to 50% of some international marketing and promotion expenses. Examples: Eligible tradeshows Exhibit costs Travel to international shows In-store demonstrations and displays Promotional items Required label/packaging changes Requests of $2,500 - $300,000 First year applicants with no export experience maximum request of $25,000 First year applicants with prior export experience maximum request of $50,000

13 Eligibility requirements Brand Promotion Be small per Small Business Administration guidelines, or be a farm cooperative Export a product that is at least 50% U.S. agricultural origin by weight Have sufficient uninterrupted supply for international buyers Market a product under a brand name Label the product as "Product of the USA" or "Made in the USA" May use Fresh From Florida or From Florida USA Pre-Qualification form Application information North American Industrial Classification System Code Dun & Bradstreet number Total sales figures Brand names/products Country information $250 application fee Upon approval, 6% administrative charge of amount requested

14 International Marketing Program Trade missions Trade shows In-store promotions Market research Trade seminars Hotel and restaurant promotions Marketing campaigns Long-term initiatives

15 International Marketing Program Create a profile on SUSTA website Pre-Qualification form Select an event from SUSTA Events page Register for the event online No graduation requirement

16 Success!

17 Questions? Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Marisol Alvares Liz Gablehouse Whitney Lett Steve Hildebrandt

Fresh From Florida How to Export to Asia Ag Export Webinar

Fresh From Florida How to Export to Asia Ag Export Webinar Top Markets for Florida Exports Live Trees & Plants: Singapore, Japan, Taiwan Vegetables: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam Fruits & Nuts: Japan, South