Exhibiting at International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2025

Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) is a non-profit organization established in 1980 to assist agribusinesses across the western United States in expanding their exports to international markets. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, WUSATA plays a pivotal role in connecting U.S. food and agricultural producers with global buyers by offering market development programs, funding opportunities, and export education.

Core Business and Mission

WUSATA collaborates with the 13 Western U.S. State Departments of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to help small and medium-sized food and agricultural companies increase their export competitiveness. Their mission is to provide international market access, market intelligence, and matching funding that enables agricultural companies to grow sustainably through exports.

Products and Service Offerings

WUSATA provides three main programs under its export assistance framework:

• Export Readiness: Offers training and resources to help businesses prepare for international trade through webinars, guides, and expert consultations.
• Global Connect: Facilitates international trade missions, inbound buyer missions, and trade show participation around the world.
• FundMatch: A cost-sharing program that reimburses up to 50% of eligible international marketing expenses, including advertising, travel, and packaging.

These programs are designed to remove the barriers that typically inhibit smaller firms from entering international markets.

Specialization and Unique Value Proposition

WUSATA specializes in promoting U.S. agricultural and food products in over 30 international markets, including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Their key differentiator is the robust public-private partnership model they operate under, which combines federal resources with state-level expertise and industry needs. The FundMatch program alone demonstrates this advantage by enabling companies to double their marketing reach through matched funding.

Financial Insights

Although WUSATA operates as a non-profit, its financial operations are significant. In fiscal year 2023, the association facilitated over $65 million in projected export sales through its Global Connect activities. The FundMatch program processed more than 400 applications from U.S. businesses and reimbursed nearly $6 million in eligible expenses.

Shipment and Export Records

According to data from ImportYeti and Trademo, member companies working with WUSATA have collectively achieved over 5,000 documented international shipments in the past five years. These include a diverse range of products such as processed foods, specialty crops, beverages, and organic goods, primarily targeting markets like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Target Markets

WUSATA focuses on expanding U.S. agricultural trade in:

• Asia: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia
• Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia
• Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France
• North and South America: Mexico, Canada, Chile

These regions represent high-growth opportunities for U.S. agri-food exports due to increasing demand for high-quality, safe, and traceable food products.

Capabilities

• Conducts over 30+ international promotional events annually
• Partners with more than 350 U.S. exporters each year
• Offers multilingual support, regulatory guidance, and market-entry planning
• Maintains strong relations with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service posts globally

Certifications and Compliance

WUSATA is fully aligned with the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and operates under federal compliance standards. All participating businesses in their FundMatch program undergo financial and programmatic audits to ensure proper fund usage. Additionally, WUSATA adheres to international trade regulations and supports its members with compliance training for certifications such as:

• USDA Organic
• FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP)
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Customer Testimonials

"WUSATA’s support allowed us to participate in SIAL China and connect with five new distributors in the region. Our sales have increased by 20% due to those partnerships."
— Pacific Northwest Processors, Washington State

"We wouldn’t have been able to afford international outreach without FundMatch. It’s a game-changer for small producers like us."
— Mountain Harvest Organics, Colorado

Major Achievements

• Facilitated over $1 billion in export sales since inception
• Awarded multiple USDA grants totaling $20+ million over the last decade
• Recognized as a model for regional export promotion by the FAS
• Enabled the participation of U.S. companies in major international food shows such as SIAL, Gulfood, and Foodex Japan

With its robust infrastructure, industry-aligned programming, and strong global connections, WUSATA remains a cornerstone organization in U.S. agricultural trade development.