Success Stories

	Kennedy Rice Mill: Growing Global Opportunities for Louisiana Rice Kennedy Rice Mill is a woman-owned rice mill located in Mer Rouge, Louisiana. The company has played an important role in revitalizing its local community while supporting generations of Louisiana rice farmers. Read more and watch video.
	Longtime SUSTA Participant Reports Exponential Export Growth A small business and longtime participant in the Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA), Carter Pecan has worked with the organization for more than a decade. They now export to over 40 countries! Read more and watch video!
	Inbound Mission Leads to Success in Europe In June 2025, Douglas and Benjamin Lapin from Ben’s Best Charcuterie traveled to Houston, Texas to meet with European buyers as part of a SUSTA trade mission. In the months following, the Bradenton, Florida-based small business secured a sale to the United Kingdom in the five figures, which should be the first of many. Read more.
	Virginia Company Makes a Splash at Pet Fair Asia When most people think of pets, they think of man’s best friend. But the popularity of exotic pets is on the rise. Parakeets, chinchillas and sugar gliders are examples of this growing sector in the pet marketplace, and these critters need products! That is where Virginia-based Evans Natural Provisions comes in. Read more.
	American Whiskey Flows to the Netherlands with Help from SUSTA In March 2025, Tennessee Craft Spirits exhibited with SUSTA at the Prowein trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany. This was the second year in a row that the Franklin, Tennessee-based export management company exhibited in the SUSTA pavilion at the show. Read more.
	Virginia Snacks are Poppin' in Global Markets Virginia-based Jody’s Inc., uses SUSTA's CostShare program and are now in several foreign markets. "As a result (of CostShare), we are able to be brave and try a trade show in Dubai or Japan that we otherwise couldn't afford to do." Watch the video!
	Storytelling Goes a Long Way in Japan for Louisiana Brewery “Japan has a culture that enjoys craft beer, has an affinity for jazz as well as an authentic story. The fact that we are based in the birthplace of jazz is a compelling part of our story when meeting with importers in Japan,” said Jon Renthrope, Founder and CEO. Learn more.
	Integra Foods Plays the Long Game…and Wins Exporting takes time and persistence, and the USDA’s Market Access Programs help small businesses like Meridien Export and Packaging stay in the game long enough to generate and maintain success. Learn more.
	Timing it Right in Japan In March 2023, BuzzBallz exhibited in the SUSTA pavilion at FoodEx Japan, which put BuzzBallz on the map in Japan. By the following year, they returned to FoodEx Japan as their products were hitting shelves in Osaka. “It was perfect timing.” Learn more
	Texas Company uses Multiple SUSTA Resources to Penetrate India After several trade events in the U.S. and online targeting the India market, Space Enterprises traveled to New Delhi and Mumbai in December 2023. Learn more
	Digital Promotions are the Secret Sauce for Small Florida Business If you search for pasta sauce on Amazon.ca, their brand Yo Mama’s comes up in the top search results, which is a sponsored promotion eligible for CostShare reimbursement. Learn more
	Louisiana Exporter in over 80 Countries Thanks to MAP Crown Products is an export trading company of food products that has been growing their exports with the help of the Southern United States Trade Association since the 1990’s. Learn more.
	How Sweet It Is For the last eight years, Nature's Way Farms, Inc. has exhibited at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, developing more than just sales. Learn more.
	SUSTA Makes Magic - Small Louisiana Spice Business now in 45 Countries The 25-year relationship of Magic Seasoning Blends and SUSTA exemplifies the meaningful impact that the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s Market Access Program can have on a small business. Learn more.
	Puerto Rico Nursery Thrives Internationally with SUSTA Support How does a nursery in Puerto Rico cultivate tropical plants and international sales? With support from SUSTA! Read more.
	Yo Mama's Foods Uses CostShare for Digital Advertising A small Florida business is growing on sites like Amazon Canada with the help of CostShare Watch video
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