Warwick-based Valley Fresh Direct delegation returns from trip to China
WARWICK — Since its rapid pace of industrialization and urbanization in recent years, China has had trouble feeding its 1.35 billion citizens.
And according to Peter Gregory, operations director of Valley Fresh Direct, the huge country now imports more than 50 per cent of its needed food supply.
Gregory sees that as an opportunity for local farmers, especially for fresh premium produce, which could be airlifted to China from nearby Stewart International Airport.
"Here in Warwick," he said, "we have a mix of agricultural heritage and foresight."
Valley Fresh Direct, currently located in the Clocktower building on Main Street, is working with local farmers, wineries, distilleries, cheese makers and the like to evaluate their products for the Chinese market and showcase them overseas.
"We have five major partners in China," said Gregory, "who can represent us and distribute our food products in every province."
Gregory, known to many in the region for his work with the Orange County Business Accelerator, and Valley Fresh Direct Founder Winnie Greco, recently lead a small delegation to China to explore the available opportunities for trade.
Commodities Fair
While there, the delegation attended the 19th annual China Yiwu International Commodities Fair which attracts thousands of food suppliers and buyers from all over the world. As a result of this trip, Valley Fresh Direct has received a special invitation to establish a showroom in the Yiwu City wholesale market to showcase a selection of premium Hudson Valley and New York products.
"Of course, China is an incredibly large country," said Gregory, " And we've been concentrating our efforts on just a small area to start. Winnie is widely known and well-respected in the Chinese community both in New York and in China. She has opened doors for us that might otherwise be difficult. Valley Fresh Direct was very well received in Yiwu City. We had the opportunity to meet with the deputy mayor of Yiwu and began developing some exciting business relationships that will allow us to showcase Valley Fresh Direct represented products in China in the near future."
Sister cities
As part of their recent trip the delegation also visited Warwick's sister-city Shanyin. Gregory and Winnie Greco presented Shanyin's Mayor Nan Zhi Zhong with a ceremonial gift of a crystal apple sent by Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton in recognition of the sister-city relationship.
The officers at Valley Fresh Direct have also expressed an interest in occupying one of the buildings at the vacant Mid-Orange Correctional facility when title passes from New York State to the Town of Warwick.
"The efforts of Valley Fresh to expand new markets for our local farmers are commendable," said Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton. "We look forward to working with them here in Warwick and will continue to discuss establishing their headquarters in a portion of the new Warwick Valley Office and Technology Corporate Park located at the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility."
Essential information
Valley Fresh Direct is the food export arm of The New York Sino Agricultural Sciences Organization, Inc. (NYSASOI) which represents cultural, diplomatic, and other functions in addition to maintaining free-market commercial interests between the U.S. and China.
The company is currently building its catalog of products to represent in China.
Local producers looking for more information or to have their products represented should contact Gregory in Warwick at 855-587-2886 or by email at pgregory@valleyfreshdirect.com.
By Roger Gavan