Arthur named Food Export-Midwest president

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur has been named President of the Food Export Association of the Midwest USA. Arthur had previously served on the Food Export–Midwest Board of Directors.

Food Export–Midwest is a non-profit organization that assists U.S. companies looking to start or expand export sales. The organization is composed of agricultural promotion agencies from 13 Midwestern states, with the mission of facilitating trade between Midwestern food suppliers and importers around the world.

“Food Export–Midwest has been a tremendous tool for Oklahoma companies looking to expand their reach into other countries around the world,” Arthur said. “I am excited to partner with colleagues in other states to lead the organization and continue that work.”

Since being appointed Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture in 2019, Arthur and her team at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have put an emphasis on getting more Oklahoma products into global markets. During Arthur’s first term, ODAFF helped develop new agriculture trade relationships with more than 10 countries.

In 2021, Arthur accompanied Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on a trade mission to Azerbaijan, which led to establishing an Oklahoma business in the Azerbaijani market. Last year, Arthur hosted Israeli veterinarians who were exploring the process of exporting live cattle from Oklahoma to Israel.

Under Arthur’s leadership, ODAFF has also worked with beef cattle and pork producers to discuss opportunities to export Oklahoma products to the United Kingdom and helped Oklahoma wheat producers open trade pipelines to Taiwan, Ecuador, and Peru.