Spring 2022 ORGANIC REPORT 50 of these campaigns will be shared out in the next report. While virtual events have been a successful pivot, it is hard to make up for the value of in-person business, particularly in the international field. We hosted a small delegation of buyers from Korea at Natural Products Expo East, where the buyers were able to seek out new business in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic. We then returned to the ever-successful Anuga trade fair in Cologne, Germany, our first in-person international event since February of 2020! Anuga is the largest trade show for food and beverages globally, presenting unparalleled opportunities for U.S. companies to showcase their products to buyers from around the world. While the trade show felt a little different with extra safety protocols in place, it was no less successful for the seven companies who traveled with us. Collectively the group achieved $8.5 million in projected sales. Just over a month later, we traveled back to Europe for the Free From Amsterdam show, our first time exhibiting at this event which targets European importers, distributors, and retailers looking for “better for you” products, including organic, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free. While pandemic-related lockdowns impacted the event, exhibitors in our pavilion all left with a handful of solid business leads and over $440,000 in projected sales. Looking back on this hybrid year of in-person and virtual events, it is clear the mindset for international activities in 2022 and beyond will need to be centered on flexibility and a “rollwith-the-punches” attitude. We are gearing up for a robust year of travel in 2022, bringing new and experienced exporters around the globe for a myriad of trade opportunities in Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. While we are excited to get back on the road with members for these events, we are doing so with an abundance of caution and appropriate safety measures in place. Exports of U.S. organic products increased 8% in 2021 from 2020 values, echoing the growth in the domestic market demand for organic products. We are optimistic about the trade opportunities that lie ahead for U.S. organic companies in 2022, and hope you will consider joining us. Alexis Carey is the Associate Director for International Trade at the Organic Trade Association. Organic Worldwide
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