Class Locations

• Northern California:
  Sacramento Regional CITD
  1410 Ethan Way,
  Room 205,
  Sacramento, CA 95825
  (916) 563-3200
• Central California:
  Fresno Regional CITD
  390 W. Fir Ave.,
  Building B, Room 301,
  Clovis, CA 93611
  (559) 324-6401
• Southern California:
  Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  888 W. Santa Ana Blvd.,
  Ste. 150,
  Santa Ana, CA 92701
  (714) 953-4289

 

 

Suggested Links

• Contact CA Ag Commissioners & Sealers
• CDFA Milk & Dairy Food Safety
• CA DHS Food & Drug Branch
• Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau
• Attaché Reports
• FAS Offices - Worldwide
• US Food & Drug Administration - Exports
• USDA Agricultural Marketing, Commodity Areas
• USDA Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration - Exports

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RESOURCES: California Agricultural Export Training (CalAgX)

Course Companion Website

This site is designed as a resource for participants in the CalAgX training program, offering web-based class materials, background reading and resources, and to act as a "portal" for participants to easily locate information directly related to understanding foreign regulations and requirements, up to date market conditions, and industry developments.

Please contact either Josh Eddy or Zach Young at (916) 654-0462 with any questions or comments about using this website.

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class sessions (PDF)

Session I - Introduction to Food and Agriculture Exports:

This session will provide a high-level overview of the major issues confronting today's food and agriculture exports including issues of evaluating product potential, understanding documentation, getting paid, and working with your foreign buyer. Participants will also be introduced to the state and federal resources that may help to expedite or subsidize their international expansion.

• Session 1: Introduction to Food & Agricultural Exports (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• ASSIGNMENT: Company overview and introductions
• COURSE MATERIALS:
  • EU Marketing Report
  • Export Questionnaire
  • Acronyms List
• April 8 (Sacramento)
• April 9 (Fresno)
• April 10 (Santa Ana)

Session II: Logistics and Documentation

This session will help participants learn about the role of freight forwarders and customs brokers, just-in-time delivery and special labeling / certification requirements. In addition, participants will understand the scheduling of air, ocean and rail freight, as well as determining customs classifications, tariff rates and other logistic barriers to product movement.

• Session 2: Logistics and Documentation (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• ASSIGNMENTS: Trade Secrets, pgs 73-80; Basics of Exporting pgs 24-33; International Marketing Blunders pgs 9-14 and review website links listed below.
• COURSE MATERIALS:
  • Export Credit Guarantee Programs
  • SBA Office of International Trade
  • EX-IM Bank: Interactive Guide for Small Business Exporters
  • Incoterms (PDF)
  • Incoterms Chart (PDF)
• April 22 (Sacramento)
• April 23 (Fresno)
• April 24 (Santa Ana)

Session III: Banking and Finance

Financial logistics of international trade can be cumbersome, but knowledge and a sound plan will increased your chance of success. This session will help participant learn to develop an international quote, manage various payment options, and how to finance your export transactions. In addition, this session will cover how to deal with foreign risk, offer payment terms to customers and the role of foreign currency in transactions.

• Session 3: Banking and Finance (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• ASSIGNMENTS:
  • Read "Trade Secrets," pages 40-41, 47, 50-58, 100
  • Read "Marketing Blunders" pp 70-73: Where finger-lickin' is welcome
  • Familiarize yourself with the overall purpose and function of international trade agreements at: www.tradeagreements.gov and www.genevabriefingbook.com/chapters/wto.pdf
  • Browse through the various legal considerations of exporting at: www.unzco.com/basicguide/c9.html
• CLASS EXERCISES:
  • Sample Letter of Credit, Class Exercise 1 (PDF)
  • Selecting International Payment Method, Class Exercise 2 (PDF)
  • Forward Contract/Foreign Exchange Futures, Class Exercise 3 (PDF)


• COURSE MATERIALS:
  • Duty Drawback (PDF)
  • Comparing Futures and Forwards for Managing Currency Exposures (PDF)
  • Facility Guarantee Program (PDF)
  • Export Credit Guarantee Program (PDF)
  • Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (PDF)
• May 6 (Sacramento)
• May 7 (Fresno)
• May 8 (Santa Ana)

Session IV: Foreign Regulations and Legal Aspects

Every trade agreement from GATT to CAFTA presents opportunities as well as barriers. In this session, participants will learn about current technical standards, health / safety issues and environmental protection concerns. This session will also give a high-level overview of the legal boundaries in using licensing agreements, protecting intellectual property rights and discuss ways to recognize legal options in contract and sales negotiations.

• Session 4: Foreign Regulations and Legal Aspects (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• ASSIGNMENTS:
  • Read "Trade Secrets," pages 8-13, 20-25, 32-39, 42-46, 66-69.
  • Read "Basics of Exporting," pages 12-22. Review Appendix H: PRICE DETERMINATION WORKSHEET
  • Browse through the USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service website on Market Research: http://www.fas.usda.gov/agx/market_research/market_research.asp
  • Read "Marketing Blunders," pages 83-84: "Making the Connection & The International Alter-Ego," and pages 91-92: "Lessons Learned"
• CLASS EXERCISES:
  • Online Resources (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• May 20 (Sacramento)
• May 21 (Fresno)
• May 22 (Santa Ana)

Session V: International Marketing and Market Planning

In this session, participants will review the basic steps of writing an international business and marketing plan. This session will also include strategies to determine market selection and evaluate market entry strategies. Participants will work with industry experts, other participants and business students to develop appropriate strategies.

• Session 5: International Marketing and Market Planning (Slide Presentation, PDF)
• ASSIGNMENTS:
  • Read "International Marketing Blunders," pages 28-47, Language & Translation Blunders
  • Read "Basics of Exporting," pages 14-19, Business Travel & Cultural Issues
  • Read "Basics of Exporting," pages 43-44 Business Travel Abroad
  • Review Web Article "The Dynamics of International Business Negotiations"
• COURSE MATERIALS:
  • Developing Indicators for International Market Potential (PDF)
  • Sample Export Plan (PDF)
• June 3 (Sacramento)
• June 4 (Fresno)
• June 5 (Santa Ana)

Session VI: Negotiation and Cultural Aspects

This session will help you learn to better understand the cultural dos & don'ts in other countries, while also enhancing your ability to negotiate your export deal. Experts will instruct participants on how to manage relationship builders such as gift-giving and receiving protocol, customs and etiquette, the bargaining process, and how to use new sales and contract techniques in dealing with the foreign customer.

• June 17 (Sacramento)
• June 18 (Fresno)
• June 19 (Santa Ana)