Twenty-one American organic companies and four Taiwan importers were represented at the showcase. The seminar included a panel composed of a representative of the Taiwan Council of Agriculture , an importer, and Janise Zygmont, HTP organics staff, who gave a presentation and showed slides on U.S. organic agriculture. Parts of that presentation were translated into Chinese and appeared in a magazine produced by the Agricultural Trade Office that was distributed at the showcase and later mailed to key contacts on Taiwan to create awareness and stimulate interest in U.S. organic commodities and products. WSDA's program has grown tremendously in 10 years. Other major crops include pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, grapes, raspberries, blueberries, herbs, onions, vegetables, milk and grain.
Major exports are apples, pears and frozen vegetables.
It is important to develop the export market for organic apples because domestic demand is fast reaching the saturation point. This situation may eventually occur for other organic product categories, not only in Washington, but in other areas of the country, making the export market extremely important to the long term health of the U.S. organics industry. Access to the EU market - Because the U.S. organic standards are not yet implemented, the EU requires U.S. exporters to provide detailed information about the certification status of producers, handlers, and any other entity in the export chain to the designated authority in the member state for evaluation before an organic shipment can be allowed into the market. If, with subsequent shipments, any entity in the export chain changes, complete documentation on all parties must be submitted again. This requirement is particularly burdensome for U.S. certifiers.