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ExporTech boosting ag trade in Wisconsin

A successful export program in Wisconsin is helping the state market agricultural products to other countries.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) bureau director Jen Pino-Gallagher says ExporTech trains local ag businesses on how to actively engage with international markets.

“The companies that would benefit from participating in this program are companies from the lumber and feed and pet food companies, to the manufacturer of food product companies.  So think cheese companies, snack food companies, food ingredient companies.”

ExporTech started in 2010 as a joint effort between DATCP and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Training sessions cover rules and regulations associated with exporting products.

“They’ll learn first-hand how to deal with the nuances of sending products abroad when they maybe perishable in nature or may require additional certification and licensing because it’s an agricultural product.  We bring that expertise to this ExporTech model.”

Wisconsin agricultural companies are encouraged to participate in one of two ExporTech training opportunities this summer-one in Cashton and the other in Waukesha.  The Cashton dates are July 20th, August 23rd and September 27th, 2016.  Waukesha dates are July 21st, August 25th and September 22nd.

The Cashton event is managed by the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center and the Waukesha event by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership.