USDA Launches On-line Directory of U.S. Food and Agricultural Exporters
                                                               
                                           Release No.  0131.00
                                                               
                                                               
                                    Judy Goldich (202) 720-0328
                                           goldich@fas.usda.gov

USDA LAUNCHES ON-LINE DIRECTORY OF U.S. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL EXPORTERS

     WASHINGTON, April 21, 2000 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced a new tool in USDA's campaign to increase agricultural exports.  The
new resource, an on-line directory of U.S. exporters of food, fish, fiber, and
forest products will help potential customers search for suppliers of specific
U.S. products. 

     "Increasing exports is vital to the health of U.S. agriculture, but
buyers frequently have trouble finding U.S. suppliers of the products they
need," Glickman said.  "This directory provides information to help importers
find the products they want and promote them effectively to their customers."

     USDA's agricultural attaches, trade officers, and Washington-based staff
will promote the list to overseas buyers and importers.  The system also
permits on-line registration and maintenance by suppliers, making it easy to
keep their product and company information updated.

     The U.S. supplier list will be especially helpful to small- to medium-
sized firms that otherwise might not get the exposure they need to benefit
from export markets.  Around 2,800 exporters participated in the paper version
of the program in 1999, and over 4,000 are expected to participate in 2000.

     Potential buyers can access the on-line directory of U.S. suppliers by
logging onto the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at
http://www.fas.usda.gov/buying.html and selecting U.S. Products (Suppliers)
On-Line.   U.S. food, fish, fiber, and forest product suppliers can register
their companies and products for inclusion in the on-line directory at
http://www.fas. usda.gov/ussupplier

                              #