Domestic Institutions

Goverment

· The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates both the import and export of animals and plants.
· The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provides guidance on exporting and importing meat and poultry, including packaging, labeling and other special conditions.
· The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) governs the export of grains, oilseeds and related commodities.
· Directory of contacts within State Departments of Agriculture who issue export certification documents such as Certificates of Free Sale.

Interesting partners for exporting

From facilitating relationships with potential foreign buyers, to providing technical and financial assistance, this institution’s expertise can help link your business to a world of opportunities.

1. Cooperators, FAS also partners with more than 70 non-profit trade associations, called “cooperators,” that represent producers of myriad food and agricultural products — from pecans to papayas, from sorghum to salmon, from dried beans to beef, and beyond. As part of their mission to promote U.S. agricultural products around the world, many cooperator organizations offer exporter assistance, sponsor trade missions, and help farmers and ranchers identify international market opportunities.

2. State Regional Trade Group (SRTG), FAS supports four of these non-profit organizations, which in turn assist U.S. food and agricultural businesses with the entire exporting process. Your SRTG can help you with everything from learning the fundamentals of exporting to identifying overseas opportunities to marketing your products through trade shows and trade missions. With FAS support, SRTGs also help fund international marketing campaigns and promote U.S. farm and food products overseas. FAS and SRTGs work closely together with the ultimate goal of helping U.S. agriculture build a global business.

SRTG	States	Contact
Food Export USA Northeast	Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont	www.foodexport.org (215) 829-9111
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA	Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin	www.foodexport.org (312) 334-9200
Southern U.S. Trade Association	Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia	www.susta.org (504) 568-5986
Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association	Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam, America Samoa	www.wusata.org(360) 693-3373

1. FAS supports four State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs), which in turn assist U.S. companies with creating and expanding export markets for value-added food and agricultural products. These non-profit organizations work closely with state Departments of Agriculture and offer services including:

2. Exporter training and education;

3. Analysis of export markets and opportunities;3 .trade shows and buying missions; and

4. Support for international marketing campaigns and product promotion activities.

All promotional activities conducted by the SRTGs are coordinated with FAS’s Washington and overseas offices and most are funded through the Market Access Program.