CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced 35 Illinois food companies wanting to expand their export business will participate in the inaugural Global Food & Style Expo.

 

The Expo, scheduled April 27-29 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will give the companies a rare opportunity to pitch their products to more than 2,200 international food buyers from 100 countries without leaving the state. 

 

“The global exposure gained from this show is important because Illinois agriculture depends on foreign trade for almost half of its annual cash receipts,” Gov. Blagojevich said.  “Each food sale will help create demand for our crops and support jobs in our many processing plants.”

 

The Global Food & Style Expo resulted from a partnership between three food shows:  the U.S. Food Export Showcase, Fancy Food Show and All Things Organic Conference and Trade Show.  Together, they will create the largest display of specialty, ethnic, natural, organic and American-made, ready-to-export food products under one roof in the United States.

 

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will sponsor pavilions at two of the shows.  Twenty of Illinois’ participating food companies will have a booth in the department’s pavilion at the U.S. Food Export Showcase.  Fifteen will exhibit in the department’s pavilion at All Things Organic. 

 

“Organic food sales are growing much faster than the rate of conventional food sales and are projected to reach nearly $20 billion this year,” acting Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said.  “Our pavilion will help Illinois companies gain a share of this rapidly developing market.”

 

In 2007, Illinois was the fourth-largest exporter of agricultural commodities in the United States with sales of $3.8 billion, up from $3.3 billion the year before.  Its $149 billion in sales of processed food products rank first among all states and its 89,864 food processing jobs rank third. 

 

Exhibitors in the Illinois pavilions primarily are small to medium-sized companies.  The Illinois Department of Agriculture provides them booth space at a discounted price through the Governor’s Opportunity Returns economic development program, making the show a cost-effective means to build name recognition and increase export sales. 

 

A list of the Illinois participants in the two shows follows: