American businesses are increasingly turning to exporting as a source of growth, and the processed food industry is no exception. This outward momentum is evident as U.S. food exports surpassed $139 billion in 2017. Food manufacturers are looking beyond the traditional markets such as Canada, Mexico and Europe, and diving deeper into Asia.
The exporters are not just behemoths such as PepsiCo, Tyson Foods or Kellogg’s. More than 66 percent of food processors are small businesses. Along with medium-size food manufacturers, these companies are making great strides into foreign markets. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports small and medium-size businesses with fewer than 500 employees represent almost 98 percent of U.S. exporters.