Flowers Canada Growers Inc. (FCG) has received funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) through the AgriMarketing Program (AMP) for a project entitled: “The Canadian Floriculture Market Share Initiative (MSII)”.
One of the key activities to be completed as part of the MSII Project is for growers to host incoming trade missions with U.S. buyers. Selected visitors are to be introduced to a number of Canadian growers to tour various facilities in support of relationship building and direct interaction between growers and wholesalers.
The overall goal of the incoming trade mission is to have U.S. buyers/wholesalers/retailers see firsthand the high quality and extensive variety of Canadian floriculture products for the purpose of increasing U.S. market share and increasing sales of Canadian product.
The expected outcomes of the incoming sales missions include (but are not limited to):
Clients and/or customers having an increased awareness and recognition of Canadian products in support of U.S. market expansion.
Canadian producers solidifying and increasing new business relationships.
Canadian producers benefiting from expanded or maintained market share.
Canadian producers having a better knowledgeable and suitability of U.S. target markets
Increasing and/or maintaining U.S. buyers' confidence in the Canadian floriculture industry and system.
Canadian sellers gaining knowledge so that they are fully informed of U.S. buyers/market requirements.
What does this mean to growers?
There is an opportunity for growers who would like to host an incoming trade mission to receive up to 50% of the total costs incurred. Through FCG, AAFC will provide funding to cover a portion of the various travel and event costs that are incurred by growers to bring U.S. buyers/wholesalers/retailers to Canada for the purpose of increasing connections with US buyers and increasing Canadian market share in the United States.
Source: Flower Canada Growers