WASHINGTON – Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor will lead a U.S. Department of Agriculture agribusiness trade mission to New Delhi, India, April 22-25. The diverse delegation of 47 businesses and organizations and officials from 11 State Departments of Agriculture speaks volumes about the export sales opportunity the world’s most populous country represents for U.S. food and agricultural producers. 

“India represents a growth economy for U.S. agribusinesses seeking to capture an increasing share of the household food purchases in the fifth-largest economy in the world,” Under Secretary Taylor said. “India’s rising middle-class consumers’ familiarity with American food products and increased purchasing power is a real opportunity for U.S. producers. This along with the Indian consumers’ trusted view of American food and agricultural products as high-quality has contributed to an 11 percent growth in U.S. agricultural and ag-related exports to India over the past 2 years.” 

USDA is leveraging its global reach to open new markets on behalf of American food and agricultural producers. Just last year, India reduced tariff requirements for U.S. poultry products, vegetables, fruits, pulses, and tree nuts – strengthening the agribusiness trade relationship between the United States and India. The trade mission will follow-up on those wins and secure an expanding number of new purchase agreements for American farmers, ranchers, and producers. USDA continues to be forward-leaning in its efforts to broaden the benefits of agribusiness trade for more American producers, exporters, and their home-town communities.

While on the trade mission, participants will engage in targeted business-to-business meetings and site visits to build new trade linkages, strengthen existing partnerships, observe U.S. products in the marketplace, and discover the latest Indian consumer food trends. Participants will also receive in-depth market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry trade experts.

In addition to representatives from the following businesses and organizations, Under Secretary Taylor will be joined by California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, Idaho Director of Agriculture Chanel Tewalt, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff M. Witte, North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture Doug Goehring, and officials from the Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin state departments of agriculture.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.