Home » Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles to lead agricultural trade mission to Canada

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles to lead agricultural trade mission to Canada

Ryan Quarles

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 18, 2018) – The World Trade Center Kentucky (WTC-KY) and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles have departed on an agriculture and agribusiness-focused trade mission to Canada earlier today.

The Canada 2018 Trade and Business Mission, organized by (WTC-KY) presented by Kentucky Farm Bureau and Masterfeeds/Alltech, will take attendees to Toronto and Guelph from June 18-22, 2018.

Canada, the world’s 10th largest economy and member of NAFTA, is Kentucky’s top agriculture and agri-food export market. In 2016 Kentucky’s agriculture and related industries exported $230 million to Canada.

“Kentucky agriculture needs international trade, but more importantly, the rest of the world needs Kentucky agriculture,” said Commissioner Quarles. “The goal of this agriculture-focused trade mission is to generate export opportunities by connecting our farm community to new international markets.”

“The Center organizes trade and business missions to provide Kentucky business owners with the opportunity to establish connections with prospective buyers and suppliers and the opportunity to meet with government officials,” said Ed Webb, president and CEO of the WTC-KY. “We are thrilled to be working with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture on Kentucky’s first ever agriculture trade and business mission.”

Mission attendees will be given a country-level political and economic briefing in Canada as well as a business etiquette and culture briefing in Kentucky prior to the mission. In Canada, attendees will visit grain farms, participate in round-table discussions, attend an Agriculture and Agribusiness Symposium, go to business-to-business meetings and attend business networking receptions.

“Nearly 20 percent of all agricultural and related exports went to Canada last year. By working with our friends at the World Trade Center of Kentucky, and our new Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft – a Kentuckian herself – I am confident we can increase the amount of agriculture exports from our state,” said Commissioner Quarles.

This mission is sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau, Masterfeeds/Alltech, Kentucky Distillers’ Association, and Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. For more information about the Agriculture and Agribusiness Trade and Business Mission, please visit www.wtcky.org.