The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s efforts to connect Maryland food businesses with buyers has had a recent international success for a small Maryland-based processor. In March, MDA hosted a meeting with nine Maryland companies and three Canadian buyers of specialty food products, with funding from the Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA). As a result of that meeting, Gator Ron’s, which sells a line of Bloody Mary mixes and barbecue and wing sauces, recently began shipping its product to Canada. The company was started by Bethesda resident Connie Griffith who uses recipes from her late husband Ron, who died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2011. A portion of the proceeds from the products go to the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at John Hopkins. “We routinely work with growers, food processors and livestock producers in the state to develop export market opportunities,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, who will become president of SUSTA later this year. “MDA’s International Marketing develops trade leads and market strategies, makes introductions to overseas buyers, importers, and distributors and exhibits Maryland products at trade shows around the world. Gator Ron’s recent entry into Canada is an example of recent success.” Much of MDA’s international work [...]
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