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For Immediate Release: March 14, 2003

NR03-08

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED TO HELP LOCAL COMPANIES ENTER OR EXPAND FOREIGN EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), in partnership with the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA), will be holding a workshop to inform local companies on how they may qualify for financial assistance in marketing food and agricultural products in foreign markets.

The 2003 Branded Program workshop will be held on Monday, March 31, 2003 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch Conference Room, 1849 Auiki Street. The registration fee of $20 per person includes lunch. The deadline for registration has been extended to March 21, 2003.

WUSATA's "Branded Program" offers matching funds for small companies and cooperatives that promote their branded products in other countries. Qualified companies may receive up to 50% reimbursement for the cost of their expenses, including booth rental at trade shows, travel to international trade shows, promotional materials, in-store demonstrations, advertising, required packaging changes and more.

Companies may qualify for this program if:

z The company manufactures food products and has less than 500 full-time employees.

OR

z The company is a wholesaler, private label management company, trading company or broker and have less than 100 full-time employees.

In addition:

z the company's products must be made of at least 50% agricultural content (omitting water and packaging) that is grown in the USA; and

z the product must have a brand name clearly noted on the label, box or package.

For more information on the Branded Program and how to register for the workshop, please call Donna Shima, Market Development Division, HDOA at 973-9465.

For more information, contact:

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
E-mail: [email protected]