Vilsack kicks off 'Made in Rural America' forums, touting program designed to boost exports

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has started a series of regional forums for "Made in Rural America," a new program designed to help rural businesses use federal resources to sell their products abroad. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette photo by Darrell Sapp)

The form in Canonsburg, Pa., about 20 miles from Pittsburgh was the first of five. "At the forum, administration officials promoted BusinessUSA.gov, a dedicated web portal to help rural businesses exploit export opportunities," Breanne Brammer reports for Agri-Pulse, a Washington newsletter. "The site, which allows businesses to search information and resources from 24 federal agencies, has had over 5 million page views, officials said."

Vilsack said that "In 2013, exported food and agricultural products topped a record-breaking $144 billion and supported nearly one million jobs. With the success of agricultural exports, we know that other rural businesses such as manufacturers, service providers and value-added producers have much to offer the world market and the ability to grow and create jobs when their exports are increased."

He said several area companies are already exporting products, but "there are plenty more opportunities, and no business is too small to participate," Molly Born reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Vilsack said only 1 percent of America’s businesses sell to 95 percent of the world’s consumers. The next "Made in Rural America" event is July 18 near Memphis. (Read more)