Press Releases

August 4, 2004

KENTUCKY TOPS REGION IN EXPORT SALES

Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has won a prestigious award from a regional trade association that provides marketing and exporting assistance to participating companies.

The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) honored Kentucky for generating the most export sales by companies that participated in SUSTA's Market Access Program (MAP) between Oct. 1, 2002, and Sept. 30, 2003. The award was presented at SUSTA's summer meeting July 28-30 in New Orleans.

Participating Kentucky companies exported more than $62 million worth of agricultural products in that span, accounting for more than a quarter of total agricultural export sales of $220 million in the entire SUSTA region, which includes 15 states and Puerto Rico.

"I want to congratulate our international marketing specialist, Kelly Ludwig, and our marketing office in general for their efforts that led to this award," Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. "The amount of export sales is the ultimate measurement of this program's success. I am especially pleased that we achieved this honor in competition with much larger states such as Texas and Florida. Kentucky is one of the smallest states in SUSTA, so for us to lead the region in export sales is a tribute to our hard-working marketing staff and Kentucky's great food companies."

Kentucky has been honored the previous two years for having the most successful education outreach for the MAP Branded program. "When you do a good job of getting companies participating in the program, it's just natural that sales will follow," said Jim Ake, executive director of SUSTA. "The sales that Kentucky was able to generate were just incredible."

SUSTA is a nonprofit trade association whose purpose is to increase the export of high-value U.S. food and agricultural products. Ake said SUSTA generates $50 in export sales for every $1 of funding. The MAP program provides participating companies with up to 50 percent reimbursement for international marketing expenses.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Richie Farmer, Commissioner of Agriculture
Capitol Annex, Room 188
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-5126
FAX: (502) 564-5016
www.kyagr.com

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