June 27, 2008
Bronson Offers New Marketing Tool To Help Florida Agricultural Producers Increase Exports To U.K.
The United Kingdom is Europe’s second-leading importer of Florida agricultural products, with more than $41 million worth of goods purchased in 2007. A new report released today by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson details Florida’s ongoing efforts to expand agricultural exports and offers insight and information to Florida growers wishing to enter the important U.K. consumer market.
The 40-page publication titled “Exporting: United Kingdom Report” provides an overview of trade initiatives conducted in recent years by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services intended to boost Florida agricultural exports to retailers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The report provides geographic, economic and demographic information about the countries, as well as profiles of the region’s major grocery retailers Waitrose, ASDA and SuperQuinn. It also contains research findings about U.K. consumers’ attitudes and habits in regard to buying imported fruits and vegetables.
Marketing representatives from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, often in conjunction with the U.S. Southern Trade Association and Florida grower associations, partner with U.K. grocery retailers in programs that generate millions of dollars in sales of Florida products. These programs -- which include advertising, onsite culinary demonstrations and product samplings, and recipe card distribution -- also help build awareness of “Fresh from Florida” products among U.K. consumers.
“Exports are extremely important to Florida’s economic well-being,” Bronson said. “In fact, nearly one-fifth of our state’s yearly agricultural production is exported. It is important that we continually work to maintain and expand overseas markets for Florida agricultural products in this highly competitive global economy.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is statutorily mandated to provide professional marketing services to Florida’s agricultural community through its Division of Marketing and Development. These marketing promotions are part of the ongoing “Fresh from Florida” campaign, an identification and promotional program designed to boost the image of Florida agriculture and increase sales by helping consumers to easily identify Florida-grown agricultural products at retail stores. The “Fresh from Florida” campaign also helps increase public awareness of the importance of Florida’s agriculture industry, which has an estimated overall economic impact of more than $100 billion annually. For more information about Florida agriculture, visit www.Florida-Agriculture.com.
To obtain a copy of “Exporting: United Kingdom Report,” contact the Division of Marketing and Development at (850) 487-0785 or email gablehl@doacs.state.fl.us.
The report can also be downloaded from: http://app2.florida-agriculture.com/pubs/pubform/pdf/Exporting_United_Kingdom_Report.pdf
