By Scout Nelson
The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Food Export Midwest, hosted a BBQ Sauces and Rubs buyers’ mission during the American Royal World Series of Barbecue from October 31 to November 3.
The event welcomed eight international buyers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Curaçao, France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. Twenty suppliers participated, including two Kansas-based companies: Meat Mitch from Leawood and Man Meat from Kansas City.
During the four-day event, buyers toured Kansas City’s iconic BBQ stores and restaurants, including Joe’s KC BBQ Retail Store, Whole Foods, and Smoke n’ Fire Grill Store. They also attended one-on-one meetings with suppliers to discuss products and potential partnerships. A guided tour of the American Royal BBQ Competition capped off the mission, providing an immersive BBQ experience.
KDA’s mission is to support agriculture by facilitating opportunities that connect businesses looking to market their products domestically and internationally. This buyers’ mission underscores the importance of collaboration, made possible through KDA’s and MDA’s membership in Food Export Midwest.
“This initiative highlights Kansas’s commitment to promoting local agricultural products and fostering international trade,” said a KDA spokesperson.
For more information about the BBQ buyers’ mission or future opportunities, contact KDA agribusiness development coordinator Tessa Beeman at Tessa.Beeman@ks.gov or 785-564-7474.
This event not only showcased Kansas’s rich BBQ culture but also strengthened global connections, boosting opportunities for suppliers and expanding the reach of local agricultural products.
Photo Credit:kansas-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Kansas, Business, General