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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
Horticultural and Tropical Products Division (H&TP)
TROPICAL BLOSSOM HONEY SWEETENS EUROPE
Europe as a market was out of reach for us because we were too small to spend the resources needed. Tropical Blossom began exporting Florida honey after president David K. McGinnis attended an FAS-sponsored trade show in Hamburg, Germany in 1965. We strongly support the promotional efforts of the National Honey Board and the MAP funding from FAS in helping move Florida honey to export markets.
-- J. Douglas McGinnis, Vice President of Tropical Blossom
Competition Took Away a Market...
In the past, some of Tropical Blossom's best customers for honey were distributors in Northern Europe. Lately, however, extremely low pricing from Guatemala had effectively closed this market. Tropical Blossom had not sold container-load quantities of honey with honeycomb to Europe in over three years.
...but Opportunity Knocked
The National Honey Board usually exhibits at the FAS American Pavilion at SIAL every other year, a Paris food show where MAP money is frequently used to fund their exhibit. At SIAL '98, several buyers informed Tropical Blossom representatives that market possibilities in Europe had re-opened due to a shortage of supply from Guatemala. European buyers also said they preferred the quality of USA honey.
Also at SIAL '98, another prospect from Sweden that had been considering a purchase from Tropical Blossom confirmed the sale of one container of honey with comb. They have since purchased a second container, which is now being packed. A third prospect from the Netherlands who inspected samples and pricing at SIAL has since purchased a container of goods.
...and Florida Workers Benefit
The benefits of these export sales for a small company like Tropical Blossom and a small community like Edgewater, Florida, are measurable. The value of these three containers is over $125,000. Further, two seasonal employees normally laid off after Christmas season will be kept on at least several more months.
...With Some Thanks to FAS for Spurring their Small Company to Export
Tropical Blossom has been packing Florida honey since 1940. The company began exporting Florida honey after president David K. McGinnis attended an FAS-sponsored trade show in Hamburg, Germany in 1965. Exhibiting at1998's SIAL trade show in Paris at National Honey Board's (NHB) booth, and enjoying the results of the generic promotions NHB offers, has provided years of benefits for Tropical Blossom in keeping up with business in Europe.
For additional information, please contact Elias Orozco at Orozco@fas.usda.gov or on (202) 720-6791.
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