Mr. Ford Goes to Washington

To: BUSINESS EDITORS

Contact: Amanda Horner, Marketing Specialist, Ford’s Gourmet Foods, +1-800-446-0947, Amanda@BoneSuckin.com

RALEIGH, N.C., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Patrick Ford, international marketing director of Ford’s Gourmet Foods, testified in front of the United States Congressional Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture on Thursday, May 10th. Ford was asked by Congressman Mike McIntyre, Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, to testify on behalf of the Southern United States Trade Association’s (SUSTA) Market Access Program (MAP). The 2008 Farm Bill before the committee called for a $125 million increase in MAP funds.

This piece of legislation offers financial assistance for the purpose of building brand-name recognition of U.S. agricultural- based products around the globe. The aim of the non-profit organization is to increase the export of southern U.S. food and agricultural products and to enhance the economic well- being of the region. Ford began his testimony by complimenting the program, “Although our company’s growth in recent years into an internationally recognized gourmet food company ought to be testimony enough to the success of the MAP and FMD programs, it is important to understand the many ways in which these programs have been able to significantly increase our foreign trade in a relatively short time.”

Ford’s Gourmet Foods has received assistance in areas such as foreign labeling regulations and printing, advertising, market research, information on qualified buyers, trade show support, shipping costs, and product support. “Most small businesses do not have the resources, time or money to fully investigate all the different export requirements. It simply will not get done.”

The Congressional Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture expects to vote on the 2008 Farm Bill sometime in September.

For more information please visit http://www.house.gov/apps/list/ press/agriculture_dem/pr_051107_SCRDFA_Trade_Ai d.html (You may copy and paste this address into your browser).

To view Patrick Ford’s testimony please go to

http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.html

About Ford’s Gourmet Foods:

Ford’s Gourmet Foods is a fifth-generation, Raleigh, NC-based family business who creates some of the world’s greatest tasting all natural foods. Ford’s is a member of the Goodness Grows in NC program, SUSTA, and the National Association of Specialty Foods Trade (NASFT).

About Market Access Program (MAP):

The Market Access Program (MAP) was designed for businesses that desire financial support to build brand-name recognition of U.S. agriculture-based products around the globe. The goal of the program is to build U.S. trade value and support small U.S. companies.

Amanda Horner

Marketing Specialist

Amanda@BoneSuckin.com

1.800.446.0947

SOURCE Ford’s Gourmet Foods

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