TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today a new partnership with 41 Walmart and Amigo stores in Puerto Rico after a recent trade mission by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“Fresh From Florida” strawberries found their way to sunny Puerto Rico, with store ads and several promotions in Walmart and Amigo stores featuring Florida Strawberry Parfaits. These two chains recently joined the more than 60 retailers in 27 countries that have partnered with “Fresh From Florida” in 4,700 stores across the globe.
“International promotions are a unique opportunity to showcase a wide range of Florida fruits and vegetables,” Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said. “These events show people across the globe that nothing is better than ‘Fresh From Florida.’”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been researching expanding the “Fresh From Florida” campaign within the Caribbean, Central America and South America. As the Panama Canal expansion undergoes final preparations to be finished next year, Florida’s position to export agricultural products has never been more important.
In the region, 400 stores in 14 countries and territories are marketing “Fresh From Florida” products. Long-term partner PriceSmart is completing their 10th year promoting Florida commodities. The chain operates club stores that serve more than 30,000 members per outlet.
Recent successes with trade in the region also include:
- Last year, the Caribbean contained five of Florida’s 10 largest agricultural export partners: the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Leeward-Windward Islands.
- Florida agriculture exports in the Caribbean region grew by more than 7 percent to a total of $1.1 billion last year.
- Florida accounted for 75 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports to the Caribbean last year.
Florida international agricultural exports remain a vital component of the economic strength of the state, generating more than $4 billion in cash receipts and placing the state as the 8th largest agricultural exporter in the United States.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services