s 



338.13 

 A7MVA 

 MAY/JUNE 2002 



Value 



MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 



Added 



3 0864 1002 4506 ( 



NEWS LTE T T E R 



Monrana Department ot Agriculture 



March-April 2002 



The beginning is the most important part of the work. -Plato- 



de Show 



Review Comer 



'^ContacCAn^efya Stonebraker, (406) 444-2402, ''^^oi--'^l>raker<f^ _ state.mt.us 



Through the Department's Trade Show Assistance Program (TSAP), 

 informauon about the trade shows that Montana companies are 

 attending is available. This information is helpful to companies when 

 planning which trade shows to attend dunng the coming year. For 

 information on other shows, visit the Trade Show Re\'iew Corner 

 \rchives at ^^'^^"^^"'^g'^-^^^^^'"'^"^^^"^^"^^^^^'^'"^^^^Q^^'^Q'^"^''-^^'^"^^ - For 

 information on the TSAP vjsit ^v^v^vagrstate.mt.us/business/ 

 TSARshtml . 



Seattle Gift Show: Seattle, Washington 



Contad-.Mary jane Craig, (4t 5) 44 :'-3238, "'"''"■sea/f/e^ifUom 

 Targeting independent retailers, including gift and gourmet shops, tins 

 show attracts over 12,000 buyers throughout the United States, primanlv 

 from the Northwest. While the show gathers over 900 exhibitors, a 

 special section, called the FoodFocus, houses approximately 100 special rv 

 food and gourmet companies, of which most are small, familv-owned 

 operations. Booths cost approximately $1,400 and other costs vary. 

 Advice from a past attendee: Reffster ear/y so that you are assured of getting a 

 spot in the FoodFocus section. The buyers you meet in this section specifically 

 focus on specialty food and gourmet items. 



Billings Market Association, Billings, Montana 



Contacts hawna I 'alentine, (406) 652-6 1 32, l>lgi'"''rk.et((V aol. com 

 .\lthough the market is held four times per year, staff advise that 

 February and August tend to be the best markets for specialty food 

 exhibitors, hosting 250 (February) and 200 (August) gift, clothing and 

 specialty food vendors. The buyers number 1 ,450 and 575 respectively 

 and are primarily from Montana and the Northwest. To participate, 

 companies must become a member of the association at a cost of S 1 00 

 and pay annual dues of SI 00 as well. The show fee is $50 and a 12x12 

 booth costs $ 1 78. Past attendees gave this ad\'ice: This show is a great value. 

 The buyers attending are excited about the products and make orders, so I always at 

 least break-even. 



^^ontana's 

 Crocety 

 Products 



Promotion 



Contact:Angelyn Stonebraker, (406) 444-2402, "^"'"^'"''''^'''^-"'"^■'"'■"^ 

 If \-ou have not yet signed up to participate in the Montana's Choice grocery- 

 products promotion, vou wiU miss out on an opportumn' to jom over 70 

 Montana companies in marketing Montana agncul rural products m grocery 

 stores statewide. From the end of March through the end of May, an 

 educational and kickoff campaign will run statewide, featuring Montana's 

 excellent food and agncultural products in grocer^' stores. 



Point-of-purchase matenals, including product identifiers known as shelf 

 talkers and posters have been developed to attract consumers' attention to 

 Montana products on grocer}- shelves. Consumers are informed about the 

 meamng of the promotion dunng the kickoff events in local groceries, at 

 which the Montana's Choice logo and other matenals will be introduced to 

 the public. Local producers and manufacturers will have product samples 

 available, and local media is invited to participate. The Montana's Choice 

 promotion will continue beyond the kickoff with the year-round placement 

 of the shelf-talkers and contmual media outreach. Participation is FREE, 

 so sign up today! 



om the 

 Director 



With the New Year well under 

 way, now is a good time to 

 reflect on the accomplishments 

 of the last year and take stock 

 of the Montana Department of Agriculture's mission 

 to encourage and promote production and marketing 

 for agriculture and allied industries. 



The Department offers financial assistance for 

 marketing and business development through the 

 Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program and 

 the Trade Show Assistance Program (TSAP). GTA 

 assisted over thirty agriculture-focused businesses last 

 year with business and product development and 

 marketing goal achievement. Furthermore, the TSAP 

 helped three Montana companies with domestic trade 

 show attendance in the fourth quarter. These programs 

 enjoyed great success during 2001 , and we hope to 

 continue that trend in 2002. 



Last year, 42 agribusinesses promoted their products 

 to over 400 buyers from around the Northwest at the 

 annual Made in Montana Food and Gift Show. The 

 Montana Department of Agriculture and the 

 Montana Department of Commerce co-sponsor this 

 event with great success every year, and this year, the 

 fifth annual Made In Montana Food and Gift show 

 promises to be the most successful yet! 



Many oj the agribusinesses participating in the Made 

 In Montana show are also takingpart in a new media 

 promotion from the Department. Airing now on twelve 

 of Montana's fifteen television stations are Public 

 Service Announcements (PSAs) the Montana 

 Department of Agriculture developed to increase 

 consumer awareness of Montana products and promote 

 over 70 Montana companies. 



The Department also sponsored livestock industry 

 promotions in 2001 , including beef promotions to 

 Mexico and Canada, plus a sheep promotion tied to 

 the Montana Ram Sale in Miles City. These 

 promotions build and generate sales for Montana 

 livestock producers, while enhancing long term 

 relationships with producers around the globe. 



With a successjul 200 1 behind us, we anticipate an 

 even better 2002. The Department's Agriculture 

 Marketing zy Business Development Bureau looks 

 forward to assisting even more Montana agribusinesses 

 in the comint yectr. 



1STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION 



Sincerely, 



JAN 2 2004 



MONTANA STATE LIBRAPV 

 1515 E 6th AVE 



Ralph Peck, Director 



