U.S. products are featured in China

Calling it the largest USDA trade mission to date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture brought 39 American businesses to China this week to help them attempt to strike new deals, strengthen business ties and expand markets.

Noting that U.S. agricultural exports to China have grown more than 80 percent in the past three years, Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse said the trade mission provides an opportunity "to demonstrate that our U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers are reliable suppliers of the highest-quality food and agricultural products." At the same time, he said, USDA and other federal agencies "will continue to aggressively work to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade."

Scuse led the delegation, which the USDA said would make stops in Chengdu and Shanghai to meet with dozens of Chinese producers, importers, buyers, distributors and investors. The mission coincided with the Food Ingredients China trade show in Chengdu, which featured a USA Pavilion.

USDA said Chinese demand for bulk commodities such as cotton and soybeans is high and demand for products such as meat and processed foods continues to grow. U.S. exports to China totaled $32.1 billion in the 2011 fiscal year, USDA said, while exports from China to the United States totaled $9.3 billion.

USDA identified three California-based companies that were scheduled to participate in the trade mission: Pacific Ag Commodities of Sacramento, Sun-Maid Growers of Kingsburg and Taylor Brothers Farms of Yuba City.