6-28-2006 |
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HOSTING STATE AGRIBUSINESSES AT NEW YORK SHOW Eight West Virginia agribusinesses will attend the 2006 National Association for the Specialty Food Trade's (NASFT) Fancy Foods Show in New York City July 9-11, the largest contingent from the state ever to attend such a show. "These companies recognize that there is a broader market for their products and they are taking positive steps to build their business outside of West Virginia," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. "At the same time, people outside our borders are realizing that the Mountain State 's specialty food products are as good as anything being produced anywhere." West Virginia companies scheduled to attend are Blue Smoke Salsa of Ansted, Custard Stand Food Products of Webster Springs, DeFluri's Fine Chocolates of Martinsburg, East Meets West, dba as Lui Lui of Vienna, Poochie's Choice of Morgantown, Thistledew Farms dba West's Best Products of Proctor, Uncle Bunk's of Sisterville and Vita Specialty Foods of Inwood. Except for Vita Foods, companies will share booth space in the West Virginia Pavilion, which is being sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), the West Virginia Development Office (WVDO) and West Virginia State University (WVSU). Vita has reserved its own booth space. Altogether, West Virginia booths will occupy approximately 1,500 square feet at the show, which last year covered 300,000 square feet and featured 2,150 exhibitors, 60 pavilions and more than 100,000 different products. All eight West Virginia companies will also participate in one-on-one meetings with distributors and retailers the day before the show officially opens. Six of the eight will participate in direct meetings with 16 foreign buyers from nine different countries. "As important as the show itself is to our producers, these pre-show meetings may be an even better avenue for generating business," said WVDA Marketing and Development Director Jean Smith. "The Marketing staff has worked very hard to set up these meetings and to prepare our companies to take full advantage of them." Last year's New York show resulted in more than 500 leads for West Virginia companies and an estimated $2 million in financial impact. A number of companies will unveil new products at the show. Blue Smoke will showcase two new products: "XXX Salsa," its hottest salsa yet, and all-natural Guacamole Chips. Vita, which already produces a line of Jim Beam sauces, will add a new line of Budweiser Grilling Sauces - the first time Anheuser-Busch products have ever been used in a commercial specialty food product. East Meets West will showcase three new offerings: Beet Soup, Hot and Sour Red Pepper Soup and Tomato Curry. Poochie's Choice will introduce two new, all-natural doggie pretzels. Companies also plan to take part in demonstrations and a variety of "focused tastings," which allow side-by-side comparisons of similar products. NASFT is a not-for-profit business trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. It claims more than 2,100 members worldwide. For more information about West Virginia agribusiness or the New York Fancy Foods Show, contact WVDA Marketing and Development Division at 304/558-2210.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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