WASHINGTON –  The US Dept. of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced that Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney will join American exporters for a trade mission in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 4-7. The US delegation will discuss possible trade opportunities with its host country and Panama.

“The record size of this trade mission delegation demonstrates the degree of US exporter interest in these markets,” McKinney said. “I’m thrilled that representatives from 54 agribusiness and associations and six state departments of agriculture are on board and ready to connect with potential customers from both Colombia and Panama.”

The US entered into trade agreements with each country in 2012 with exports continuing to rise.

McKinney said Colombia has seen US food and farm exports triple from $1.1 billion in 2012 to 2.9 billion in 2018. There has also been Panamanian export growth from $490 million in 2012 to $683 million last year.

McKinney will be joined by Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring, and officials from the Georgia, Idaho, Missouri and Montana departments of agriculture.

Representatives from more than 50 companies and associations will be a part of the mission as well, including the Minnesota Beef Council, Fieldstone Meats of Alabama Inc., Minnesota Pork Producers Association, Minnesota Pork Board and Rosina Food Products Inc.