Billings, Montana, February 22, 2024 – The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with 15-25 U.S. food and agriculture businesses as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Agriculture Trade Mission (ATM) from June 17-20, 2024. Led by USDA Undersecretary Alexis Taylor, the trade mission will include educational seminars, retail and warehouse tours, B2B meetings/business exchanges, receptions, and government-to-government meetings to build trade relations in Western Canada. The mission is the first of its kind, featuring agribusinesses that are licensed users of the Made/Produced By American Indians trademark. Established in 1991, the trademark was created to protect the authenticity of Native products while increasing the visibility of Native food products.
Eligibility to participate in the ATM will be determined through the Made/Produced By American Indians trademark program, managed by IAC’s American Indian Foods (AIF) program. The application to participate in the ATM is open through Friday, March 8, 2024. American Indian and Alaska Native businesses with at least a 51% controlling interest are encouraged to apply for a Made/Produced By American Indians trademark to qualify for the trade mission. An exemption for Native Hawaiian businesses will be allowed in the ATM application process. Interested Tribal producers and businesses can find more information to apply for participation in the mission at the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/a1bwmv1JcY.
The AIF program offers Tribal producers and entrepreneurs opportunities to promote their products in the global market while increasing equitable value chains that uplift Indigenous food systems through every phase of market and export expansion. Launched in 1998 under contract with the USDA FAS, the AIF program serves as a platform for American Indian and Alaska Native food businesses to showcase products grown nationwide on pristine Tribal lands, with many products still harvested using traditional methods passed down through generations. The USDA ATM to Canada represents a unique opportunity for agribusinesses licensed under the Made/Produced By American Indians trademark to expand their reach into the Canadian market. Eligible businesses, as well as those seeking licensing, are encouraged to participate in this transformative mission, which promises opportunities for networking and growth prospects. The ATM underscores IAC's commitment to advancing economic opportunities and preserving cultural heritage within American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Visit indianagfoods.org to learn more about the Made/Produced By American Indians trademark and find the trademark directory. For further information and inquiries, please contact Latashia Redhouse, latashia@indianag.org.
Read the full USDA FAS news release here.