Category: Newsletter

Spanish-speaking Idahoans may be happy to hear they can now access the “Starting a Specialty Food Business” Manual in Spanish.

The popular manual was updated again in 2018.

Electronic copies of both the English and Spanish versions are available on ISDA’s website, found here.

Physical copies can also be requested through Brock Cornell.

Walmart, Albertsons, Stokes, Swensons, Atkinsons and Broulims markets participated in the second annual Idaho Preferred Retail Roadshow to promote local products and Idaho farmers.

The Roadshow kicked off in August and ran through September and visited 23 different retail locations from Coeur d’Alene and Moscow to Driggs and Preston.

The promotions included fresh Idaho produce sampling, giveaways, radio remotes and more.

Consumers learned about the benefits of buying local and at some locations even got to meet a farmer.  September is peak of harvest season and the perfect time of year for grocery stores to promote the great variety of Idaho produce – some of which consumers didn’t even know were grown in Idaho!

Final sales data is still being collected but results are expected to exceed sales from last year.

The 2017 Retail Roadshow included 13 stores and generated $2.2 million in sales!

Are you struggling to find the perfect gift this year?

We have a solution- Give Local!

Support local farmers and support your local community with a homemade locally themed gift basket.

Idaho Preferred participants have made giving local easy this season with a variety of creative gift baskets.

From wine to specialty foods, the variety is sure to satisfy even the pickiest person on your Christmas list.

Buy a pre-made Idaho basket or create your own specialty foods gift basket with a variety of locally produced products.

Idaho Preferred has put together a great list of local gift options.

Check out their directory too.

Schools throughout Idaho celebrated Idaho Farm to School Month in conjunction with National Farm to School Month.

Schools were encouraged to participate in a weekly theme featuring fresh, local ingredients.

This year the products highlighted were grapes, melons, apples, and, of course, potatoes.

Dozens of Idaho schools took part in unique and exciting ways.

In Notus, students were served an all-Idaho meal featuring Simplot Sidewinders, local cheese, veggies, fruit, and milk.

Gooding and Shoshone schools hosted a Harvest Celebration where students learned about agriculture, including a demonstration on cheese making.

Boise Schools consistently participated in the weekly themes and invited local farmers to serve their produce to students during lunch.

In addition, Idaho Preferred organized a drawing competition for Farm to School Month.

Each student in Genesee’s 1^st grade submitted an entry and as a prize, their classrooms received giant stuffed Spuddy Buddies from the Idaho Potato Commission.

For more information on how to get involved in Farm to School, please contact Megan Harper.

More information on Farm to School.

Specialty crop projects across Idaho were recently awarded funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program after being selected for funding through the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s competitive review process.

The State of Idaho allocated $1,831,794.62 to projects that improve specialty crops in Idaho, making the industry and Idaho more competitive.

Specialty crops are defined to include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

Eligible projects are required to benefit more than one organization and solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Many of the funded projects focus on research or marketing and promotion.

A total of twenty grant applications were submitted at a total request of nearly $2.4 million.

A panel of industry representatives with experience in agriculture, business management, and/or science reviewed and scored all applications, providing input to ISDA for the final selection.

Seventeen projects were selected for funding, including research, promotional, and educational activities for commodities such as potato, bean, apple, onion, cherry, wine grape, nuts and pea & lentil crops.

ISDA will soon begin accepting applications for the 2019 specialty crop program. Official application instructions, including updated application guidelines, example applications and additional required forms, will be posted in the coming months to ISDA’s website in the marketing section, under the specialty crop grant link.  Applications will be due sometime in early spring of 2019.

If you have questions about the specialty crop grant program, please contact Nichole Britt at nichole.britt@isda.idaho.gov  or 208-332-8537.

Specialty food companies that are ready to expand sales to a larger audience of domestic and international buyers are encouraged to join the Idaho Pavilion at the Specialty Food Association’s 2020 Winter Fancy Food Show.

The show will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, from January 19-21, 2020.

The Idaho Pavilion will be housed next to other state pavilions, attracting attention to a large number of food buyers.

Participating companies will also be provided on-site assistance from Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Idaho Commerce staff.

Half-booth and full-booth options are available until all six booths are filled.

Booths will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, or to register, please contact Chelsea Conlon.

Idaho food and beverage companies will be promoting their products in an Idaho pavilion at the 2019 Taste of the Northwest show January 14th-16th in Portland, Oregon.

This show is an opportunity for food and beverage companies in Idaho to meet with buyers from around the northwest.

Taste of the Northwest is part of Northwest Food & Beverage World (formerly Northwest Food Processors).  Idaho companies will also be able to attend educational seminars and connect with over 400 suppliers.

The Idaho pavilion is a partnership between ISDA and Idaho Commerce.

If you are interested in additional information please contact Megan Harper

On, January 8, 2019 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., learn about the numerous changes to the international trade landscape in 2018 at an Export Market Update seminar featuring Idaho’s Trade Office Managers.  New and retaliatory tariffs are altering trade conditions, consumer preferences, and market access which in turn are affecting Idaho exporters.  The seminar will consist of an open conversation about market changes in Mexico, Central America, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and China.  Idaho’s Trade Office Managers are experts in their respective markets and will be providing insights on how trade disputes and agreements are impacting demand, regulations, and more.

This event is brought to you by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Idaho Commerce.

Registration Information:

For those able to attend in person, the seminar will take place at ISDA’s office. If you’re outside the Treasure Valley, we will have a live webinar option. In addition, we are encouraging companies to send questions in advance. Please email Brock Cornell by January 2, 2019 to register for this event, and to submit a question for the Trade Office Managers. Registration is required for in-person and webinar attendees. There is no cost associated with this event.

Questions? Please email Brock at Brock.cornell@isda.idaho.gov

Export Market Seminar Details

Date: January 8, 2019

Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Location: ISDA Office or via webinar

ISDA Address: 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID

Registration Deadline: January 2, 2019

No Cost to Attend

Could you use funding for international advertising, approved trade shows and outbound trade missions, travel, in-store demonstrations and displays, labels and packaging modifications, printed sales materials, translations, and other export expenses?

Does your company qualify under the Small Business Administration’s definition as a “small business” and have products that contain ingredients that are of 51% US origin?

Then you may benefit from applying to the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA)’s FundMatch program.

Funding for the FundMatch Program is based off the calendar year and resets January 1^st, but can be applied for at any time.

To access the FundMatch Guide, visit the WUSATA website here.

For more information, contact Chelsea Conlon.