Food Export USA's flagship event, Summer in the Cities, will return Aug. 10-14. The multi-day, multi-city buyers mission takes place across Detroit, Indianapolis, and Albany, NY. Registration is now open for U.S. food and agricultural companies looking to connect with qualified international buyers and explore new export opportunities. Early Bird registration pricing is available through June 12, with final registration closing July 3.

Bringing together top-tier international buyers from across every major global market Food Export USA serves, the mission is designed with one purpose in mind: to help small- and mid-sized U.S. companies grow through meaningful, relationship-driven connections that open doors to new markets. 

“Summer in the Cities reflects exactly why we do this work,” said Teresa Miller, chief program and partnership officer at Food Export USA. “It is about creating the space for real conversations where suppliers and buyers can connect, build trust and uncover opportunities that lead to long-term success in global markets.”

As a standalone experience, Summer in the Cities is intentionally designed for deeper engagement. Participating suppliers receive pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with international buyers they select, including importers, distributors and retailers representing nearly 20 global regions. Buyers receive company profiles in advance, and many connections begin virtually ahead of the event. This allows in-person discussions to move quickly from introductions to meaningful business conversations.

This kind of targeted engagement comes at a time when global demand for branded, value-added food and agricultural products continues to rise. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, consumer-oriented products, including packaged foods, seafood, pet food and other value-added goods, now account for the largest share of U.S. agricultural export value. This shift highlights growing global interest in differentiated, retail-ready products.

Before meetings begin, international buyers participate in guided retail tours in each host city where they evaluate packaging, pricing, and product positioning within the U.S. market. In many cases, buyers experience products in-store before meeting with suppliers. This added context leads to more informed conversations and helps companies better understand how their products resonate globally.

“Summer in the Cities is our flagship event because it delivers where it matters most: connection, insight and opportunity,” said Brendan Wilson, CEO of Food Export USA. “We help companies move beyond introductions and into real business relationships that drive long-term growth in international markets.” 

By combining the strengths of the Midwest and Northeast regions into one unified mission, Food Export USA creates an environment where companies can better understand global demand while building the relationships that fuel export success.

Summer in the Cities also serves as a key lead-in to Food Export USA’s 2027 Program Year, launching Aug. 1. Through this program, companies can access a full suite of services designed to turn connections into sustained export growth. 

With buyer meetings scheduled in advance and participation limited, interested companies are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Early Bird registration pricing ends Friday, June 12, and the final registration deadline is July 3.