The News Virginian
By: BOB STUART | News Virginian
Virginia hopes to build on 2011’s record $2.4 billion in exports of its agricultural products.
State and regional economic officials say it is important to take advantage of the global marketplace for products ranging fromVirginia wines to soybeans to lumber and wood products.
Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng said the biggest jump inVirginia’s exports to China in 2011 came from soybeans. But Cheng said agricultural exports could run the gamut.
For example,Morocco was Virginia’s top agricultural export customer in 2011 at $360 million. Cuba also was high on the list at $65 million.
Negotiations for new export business are ongoing, as well.
Shenandoah Valley Partnership CEO Robin Sullenberger said there are efforts to increase the state exports of beef and poultry, two major Valley commodities.
One key to building on the 2011 export record is increasing the number of state exporters. Cheng said the Virginia Economic Development Partnership has a program that trains exporters.
The initiative is called the VALET program. It uses attorneys, Web designers and other experts to help companies in the Old Dominion expand their markets beyond the United States.
Augusta County Economic Development Director Dennis Burnett said that, while it takes effort and time to learn how to export, the Shenandoah Valley is in a prime location to export its agricultural products.
“When you see folks here exporting, it is because of our infrastructure,” he said. “We have a highway system with access to the ports. We are strategically set up to export.”
Sullenberger said exporting is an option that needs to be considered, no matter whether the country is in a recession.
“Global markets are part of the landscape,” he said.
There is more opportunity to sell and more money to be made abroad, Sullenberger said.
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