By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas
The US Department of Agriculture will lead a high-impact trade mission to Lima, Peru from June 9 -12 aimed at expanding market access and boosting US agricultural exports to address the US$3.66 billion trade deficit with Peru. The delegation includes more than 50 agribusinesses, trade organizations and representatives from five state departments of agriculture working to strengthen economic ties and improve the trade balance.
“USDA is committed to enhancing export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses,” said Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley, who will lead the mission. “This trade mission will connect US producers with key buyers in South America, improving economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.”
Peru is the fourth-largest market for US agricultural exports in South America, and the US is Peru’s second-largest agricultural supplier. Despite bilateral agricultural trade growing 263 per cent to US$5.3 billion since 2009, the US$3.66 billion agricultural trade deficit persists. This mission aims to build on this growth, bridge the gap and increase US exports.
Trade mission participants will engage in business-to-business meetings with buyers from Peru and Ecuador, gaining market insights and fostering new business partnerships. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) staff and regional experts will provide in-depth market briefings, site visits and networking events to maximize trade opportunities.
Administrator Whitley will be joined by Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, Montana Director of Agriculture Jillien Streit, and representatives from Indiana, Georgia, and Wisconsin, alongside a delegation of agribusiness leaders:
Aero-Cos International – Marlboro, N.J.
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute – Juneau, Alaska.
American Foods International Inc. – Doral, Fla.
Ampac Seed Company – Tangent, Ore.
Andes Global International LLC – Miami, Fla.
Attebury Grain LLC – Amarillo, Texas
Bear Fiber Inc. – Morganton, N.C.
BioUrja – Houston, TX
Boston Agrex LLC – Norwell, Mass.
California Dairies Inc. – Visalia, Calif.
Commercial Lynks Inc. – Alexandria, Va.
Cotton Council International – Washington, D.C.
Darigold Inc. – Seattle, Wash.
Erie Foods International Inc.– Erie, Ill.
G&C Food Distributors & Brokers Inc. – Doral, Fla.
George F. Brocke & Sons Inc. – Kendrick, Idaho
Great Northern Ag – Plaza, N.D.
Heartland Essentials, LLC – Gilbert, Ariz.
Hoogwegt US Inc. – Lake Forest, Ill.
IND Hemp – Benton, Mont.
Intervision Foods – Atlanta, Ga.
James Farrell & Co. – Bellevue, Wash.
JBS Food USA – Greeley, Colo.
Kane County Agriculture Economic Development Corporation – Chicago, Ill.
KIT International Inc. – Hackensack, N.J.
Leprino – Denver, Colo.
MAVIGA North America – Spokane, Wash.
National Industrial Hemp Council – Washington, D.C
Neil Jones Food Company – Vancouver, Wash.
New World Trading LLC – Miami, Fla.
Old Fashioned Cheese – Mayville, Wis.
Pear Bureau Northwest – Milwaukie, Ore.
Schreiber Foods Inc. – Green Bay, Wis.
SMART Reproduction – Jonesboro, Ark.
Sysco International Food Group – Jacksonville, Fla.
Tedford/Tellico Inc. – Knoxville, Tenn.
Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board – Lubbock, Texas
Tropical Foods LLC – Miami, Fla.
Tyson Foods – Springdale, Ark.
U.S. Dairy Export Council – Arlington, Va.
U.S. Dry Bean Council – Frankenmuth, Mich.
U.S. Grains Council – Washington, D.C.
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council – Folsom, Calif.
U.S. International Foods LLC – St. Louis, Mo.
U.S. Livestock Genetics Export Inc. – Mount Horeb, Wis.
U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colo.
U.S. Rice Producers Association – Katy, Texas
U.S. Soybean Export Council – Chesterfield, Mo.
USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council – Moscow, Idaho
USA Rice – Arlington, Va.
Western United States Agriculture Trade Association – Vancouver, Wash.
The Peru trade mission is part of USDA’s broader 2025 export promotion strategy. Recent trade missions to Thailand and Guatemala generated nearly US$23 million in 12-month projected sales for US exporters. Looking ahead, USDA will soon announce application details for planned missions to Côte d’Ivoire, Mexico, and Taiwan.
