This April, CDFA will be jointly hosting CALAGX 2015 – the only comprehensive export training program available to California’s specialty crop growers. The program provides intensive training to help companies move their products into foreign markets, led by instructors who are experts in the fields of banking/finance, shipping/logistics and sales & marketing.
“The CalAgX Training Program assisted our company by helping us better understand and respond to foreign sales inquiries, as well as navigate foreign market requirements,” said Gold River Orchards President Don Barton, a past participant of the training program. “We’ve seen success with this program and it has been very useful for our company.”
Participants in a recent CalAgX Training
The 2015 California Agricultural Export Training (CalAgX) Program is a six-session seminar program held over a two month period and focuses on issues such as finance, export documentation, market barriers and federal/state resources. More than 300 companies have taken CalAgX since its inception in 2005 and past participants have included Blue Diamond Growers, Earthbound Farm, Harris Fresh, Morning Star Packing Company, National Raisins, Point Conception Wines, Ratto Bros, and Summit Almonds.
“Interest in international trade continues to grow”, said Alicia Rios with the State Center Community College District. The District, part of the statewide Center’s for International Trade Development, are the organizers of the training program. “As incomes rise in foreign markets, California’s specialty crops are increasingly in demand among the world’s consumers. We are seeing a lot of specialized food companies taking advantage of these international opportunities.”
Applications are now being accepted through April 10, 2015. Training will be held in Salinas, Fresno and Sacramento and classes begin the week of April 13th. For more information, please visit www.fresnocitd.org or call 559.324.6401.
The CalAgX program is hosted by the California Center for International Trade Development at State Center Community College District, and is funded by the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant program of the United States Department of Agriculture, and is presented by the California Centers for International Trade Development in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture