NewsOrganic Certification Grant Program EventsFebruary, 2009 March, 2009 April, 2009 May, 2009 June, 2009 October, 2009
Go to:Organic Grants Deadline: September 30, 2009 To be eligible for reimbursement, an organic production or handling operation must be located within Illinois, comply with the USDA National Organic Program regulations for organic production or handling and have received certification or continuation of certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2009. Under Illinois' current agreement with the USDA, producers and handlers can make application for reimbursement to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by submitting the following documents:
Based upon the receipt of the completed application packet by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, reimbursements will be on a first-come, first-served basis until the limited program funds are exhausted. For more information, telephone Delayne Reeves at 217/524-9129 or email her at delayne.reeves@illinois.gov DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GIFT ITEM WEBSITE Go to:Illinois Agriculture Gifts Is your company currently selling “Gift Items” on your website? The Illinois Department of Agriculture has developed a “Gift Item/Gift Set” website on the IDOA Home Page to help you advertise your company's gift items. To see if you are currently listed, go to Illinois Agriculture Gifts and look around. If you sell gift items on your website and you are not currently listed on our (gift item) website, contact Larry Aldag at 217/524-3012 or larry.aldag@illinois.gov or Kim Hamilton at 217/782-5809 or kim.hamilton@illinois.gov to be listed. INNER MONGOLIAN EXECUTIVES TO VISIT CHICAGO, MEET WITH AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS A group of 23 executives from Inner Mongolia will be visiting the Illinois Institute of Technology in February to participate in a variety of Seminars in Management and Leadership. They will also meet with officials from the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing and Promotion to discuss general agriculture and marketing issues. For further information contact Dr. Jerry J. Field at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Center for Professional Development, Industrial Management and Technology, 312-567-8851. ORGANIC TRADE ORGANIZATION SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AWARD Who inspires you? The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is currently seeking nominations for its 2009 Organic Leadership Awards. Established in 1997, OTA's Organic Leadership Awards are the association's highest honor, bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to the organic industry. Please consider whether you know a candidate for an OTA Organic Leadership Award. On OTA's web site you may view a list of past award recipients and review the 2009 selection criteria and nomination forms. Nominations are due by March 27. The awards will be presented during OTA's Annual Dinner June 17 in Chicago during the All Things Organic™ Conference and Trade Show.
AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION CENTRAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE Sat.-Mon., February 21-23, 2009 Renaissance Hotel Schaumburg, IL The 2009 American Culinary Federation Central Regional Conference is coming to Schaumburg, IL at the Renaissance Hotel February 21-23, 2009. Organizers have asked the Marketing Division to solicit Illinois food companies that might be interested in showcasing their products at the 2009 show. The central region of the American Culinary Federation consists of 15 states from Minnesota and Michigan in the North to Louisiana and Texas in the south. The more than 400 attendees are made up of Executive Chefs, Pastry Chef's and Industry professionals bringing with them the buying power or their respective restaurants, country clubs, catering companies and large corporations. This event is an excellent opportunity to get your product in front of an important segment of the industry. With fifteen states making up the region this conference will not return to Illinois for quite some time. If you think you would like to attend this event space will be limited and available on a first come first served basis. Please contact Bob Reese for more information at 217/524-9130 or drop him an email at bob.reese@illinois.gov March 3-6, 2009 FOODEX JAPAN is held annually, welcoming 2,400+ exhibitors from 60+ countries & regions and drawing 90,000+ visitors over the 4-day show period. With over 30 years serving as Japan's top trade food and beverage show, FOODEX JAPAN is renowned as an established and rewarding event. The event is a platform for exhibitors and visiting buyers to meet and interact, offering key opportunities for dynamic discussions and business possibilities to enter Asian and global markets. 11TH ANNUAL ILLINOIS PRODUCTS EXPO--A FOOD AND COOKING EXTRAVAGANZA March 7-8, 2008 Orr Building The “11th Illinois Products Expo...A Food and Cooking Extravaganza" will be held on March 7-8, 2009, in the Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL. The cost to participate is only $175. The Expo is a consumer show and provides an excellent opportunity for Illinois food companies to promote sample, and sell (if you choose) your product(s) to central Illinois consumers. Over 5,000 people (11 years of age and older) attend the Expo each year. (We do not keep a record of attendance of children under 11 years of age). The Expo show hours are: Saturday, March 7th, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 8th, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Approximately 80 Illinois food companies, agribusiness and agricultural groups promote, sample & sell their Illinois food and agricultural-based products to general public consumers and to some special buyers. (Companies can choose not to sell during the show.)
Or, for more information, phone Larry Aldag at 217/524-3012 or email him at larry.aldag@illinois.gov)
CANADIAN RESTAURANT AND FOODSERVICE ASSOCIATION (CRFA) Show--U.S. Pavilion March 8 - 10, 2009 Toronto, Canada As the doorway to Canadian exports into the restaurant and foodservice sector, this annual spring show is important to a company wishing to develop this market. The show is a blended food products, equipment, and supplies show and therefore is a strong draw to Canadian buyers. Illinois cooperates with the USDA on a U.S. Food Products Pavilion with increased services and reduced pricing. The show also qualifies for assistance under the Food Export Branded program. Show Coordinator - Jim Mackey, 217/782-2581 or jim.mackey@illinois.gov
March 10-13, 2009 Guardalajara, Mexico The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Food Export-Midwest are coordinating Midwest and Northeast companies' participation at the ANTAD Show in Guadalajara, Mexico, March 11-13, 2009. IDOA and Food Export-Midwest have reserved booth space in the U.S. Pavilion. Held annually, ANTAD is Mexico's and Latin America's biggest food and supermarket show with over 1,800 exhibitors and approximately 30,000 leading buyers and importers for supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets from all over Latin America. In Mexico, most of the supermarket chains, convenience stores and department stores are associated with the National Retailers Association (ANTAD). ANTAD has 92 members with more than 14,275 stores. Under NAFTA, Mexico has become one of the largest and fastest growing markets for U.S. agricultural products. Since 2003 duties have been eliminated on all consumer oriented food products. Exports of consumer oriented products to Mexico reached a record $4.2 billion in 2006. About 45% of retail food sales go through supermarkets; that figure is expected to grow to 60-65% in 5-10 years. To take full advantage of your participation at ANTAD, Food Export-Midwest is offering Food Show PLUS! services at the show. For $200, your company will receive the following:
The best prospects for the show include fish, seafood and products; processed fruits and vegetables; dairy products; snack foods; red meats (prepared/preserved); poultry meat; eggs and products; soybean meal; soybean oil, pet food; and semi-cooked microwave prepared foods. Your company may be eligible to take advantage of additional financial support that helps offset the costs of exhibiting at international shows. By exhibiting in the USA Pavilion, eligible companies can receive up to 50% cost reimbursement for a variety of expenses including exhibition fees, international travel, set-up, rental and freight expenses through the Branded Program. The Branded Program supports the promotion of branded and private label food and agricultural products overseas and is sponsored by the Foreign Ag Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Interested companies should contact Kim Hamilton at 217/782-5809 or email her at kim.hamilton@illinois.gov March 11-13 Bangkok, Thailand VIV Asia 2009 connects the Asian & Pacific markets for animal production and processing. IDOA will have an Illinois Pavilion with the following companies participating: Ag-World, Prince Agri, and Milk Specialties Company (MSC). Telephone or email Terry English at 217/785-0115 or email him at terry.english@illinois.gov SIAL MONTREAL FOOD SHOW -- U.S. PAVILION April 1-3, Montreal, Canada SIAL Montreal is an important food show for connecting with our largest export market for consumer food products - Canada. This well-established, annual spring show features the whole range of food products. 35% of visitors are brokers, retailers, wholesalers, or distributors and 31% are foodservice and hotel buyers. This show also boasts a uniquely European flavor with many exhibitors and visitors from Europe. Illinois cooperates with the USDA on a U.S. food products pavilion with increased services and reduced pricing. The show also qualifies for assistance under the Food Export Branded program. Show Coordinator - Jim Mackey, 217/782-2581 or jim.mackey@illinois.gov NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SHOW THREE SPACES REMAIN May 16-19, 2009 McCormick Place Chicago, IL The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring an Illinois Pavilion in the American Food Fair at the 2009 NRA Show. The Show will be held on May 16-19, 2009 and will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The American Food Fair will join the National Restaurant Show (NRA) to provide Illinois companies top exposure to the lucrative $558 billion restaurant and lodging business. The NRA Show is the largest single gathering in the world of foodservice and lodging professionals that include corporate executives, owners/operators, franchisees, managers and purchasing agents of foodservice, hotel/motel operations, cruise lines, airlines/commissary, entertainment/concessions, military, and contract foodservice. The show includes more than 2,200 exhibitors and 71,300+ attendees from 50 states and 102 countries. More than 5,900 international buyers attend the show. The booth package is $2515 and includes a 10X10 carpeted booth with hard wall, five shelves, company signage, three stem lights, a demonstration counter with storage, one wastebasket, daily cleaning of the booth, and five exhibitor badges. Please click on the NRA Show Flyer for additional information. Your company may be able to qualify for up to 50% reimbursement of exhibiting expenses such as booth cost, shipment of samples, and rental fees for NRA via the USDA's Branded Program (MAP). Contact Kim Hamilton below for further details. A participation form will be sent upon request. Deadline: January 16, 2009 Contact Kim Hamilton at 217/782-5809 or email her at kim.hamilton@illinois.gov for further information.
SIAL CHINA FOOD SHOW--U.S. PAVILION May 19-21, Shanghai, China SIAL China is held each May in Shanghai and is one of the primary shows for food products exports to China. The demographics of the Chinese market are huge and with a growing middle class the perceived high quality of American food products can support some pricing premiums. Illinois food products companies with the capacity and desire to export could benefit from the exposure and learning experience this show offers. Illinois cooperates with the USDA on a U.S. food products pavilion with increased services and reduced pricing. The show also qualifies for assistance under the Food Export Branded program. Show Coordinator - Jim Mackey, 217/782-2581 or email him at jim.mackey@illinois.gov
INTERNATIONAL FOOD TECHNOLOGIST FOOD EXPO--ILLINOIS PAVILION June 7-9 Anaheim, California The IFT Food Expo is the premier US event for food ingredients and technology, and one of the most important food ingredient shows in the world. The expo is in conjunction with a major scientific conference held each summer in a different U.S. city. Thousands of food scientists, technologists, and business professionals will travel from around the world to search out new products, new sources, and new technologies. 42% of attendees are in R&D/scientific/technical job functions. 12% are vice presidents or higher. 86% make or influence their company's buying decisions. Illinois sponsors a pavilion at a reduced booth price for Illinois food companies. This show also qualifies for assistance under the Food Export Branded program. Show Coordinator - Jim Mackey, 217/782-2581 or email him at jim.mackey@illinois.gov INTERNATIONAL DAIRY DELI BAKERY ASSOCIATION (IDDBA) June 7-9 Atlanta, Georgia Recruiting closes March 13, 2009 or when full IDDBA Dairy-Deli-Bake is the major showcase held each summer in a different U.S. city, for the best dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, foodservice products, packaging, and services. In this food sector, it's the one conference that offers a full-service package: a seminar program that has meaningful content for your personal and professional growth; pre-qualified retail buyers, merchandisers, and executives who are ready and willing to do business; a 1,600 booth expo; and world-class merchandising ideas and demonstrations with actionable ideas. Illinois sponsors a pavilion at a reduced booth price for Illinois food companies. IDDBA membership is required to participate. The show also qualifies for assistance under the Food Export Branded program. Show Coordinator - Jim Mackey, 217/782-2581, or email him at jim.mackey@illinois.gov ALL THINGS ORGANIC--ILLINOIS PAVILION June 16 - 18, 2009 McCormick Place Chicago, IL All Things Organic™ is the only event focused exclusively on organic products, delivering an audience like no other trade show. In 2008, more than 10,000 attendees visited the show floor- with more than half of them reporting that they plan to increase their volume of organic product purchases in 2009. For more information, telephone Delayne Reeves at 217/524-9129 or email her at delayne.reeves@illinois.gov |
P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL 62794-9281