Agri-Food Trade Service

ATS Content Manager's Blog

New agricultural focus on the VTC – sign up today and try it out

April 9, 2010

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Now that we've wrapped up some of our projects related to the CRFA Show, we've focused our attention on further improving how we get our market information and news analysis to industry. Apart from the ATS web site, one way that we provide our information to clients is with the Government of Canada's Virtual Trade Commissioner (VTC).

Supported by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), the VTC provides an online gateway for clients in the form of a personalized web page, based on a client's industry and international markets of interest. On your tailored web page, you can access market reports, contact information, and sector-specific news and trade events. If you haven't already registered to the VTC, now is the time to see what services are available to you.

Companies from all sectors of Canada's economy can register with VTC, and as an online source of market intelligence within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, we've been collaborating with DFAIT to increase their agricultural sources. Enhancing the personalization tools of VTC's news sources and search results has been our main area of focus. Together with DFAIT, we've been working to provide much more sector- and market-specific news sources to VTC clients. Using RSS feeds with specific search technology, the VTC can now provide news articles on VTC clients' web pages that closely match your international markets and sectors of interest. Another enhanced tool is the VTC's search engine, which lets you find more tailored market reports and information, including ATS material. Please come and try out these new tools and gather some tailored market intelligence available only to Canadian business and their partners. VTC sign in

As we begin to move forward into 2010, we've also been working on a report on Hot Trends in 2010. The National Restaurant Association has come out with their annual Chef Survey for “What's Hot in 2010”, while the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association just came out with their first Chef Survey of top menu trends in 2010. We've compiled the results of these two surveys, along with other market information and news sources to provide you with an idea of where the market's moving and what consumers are looking for. Locally sourced food and sustainability were at the top of the list for both Canada and the U.S., while other top trends were mini desserts, artisan products, organic produce, and simplicity. Health-related trends remained important, with top trends centered around nutrition, smaller portions, and superfruits. Many of these trends were also evident at the recent trade shows we've attended. Keep an eye out for this report to appear on the ATS web site in coming weeks.

Let us know what you think of the reports we've created for you so far in 2010 (ATS What's New Section) and what market information you're looking for that's missing. We're always looking to stay on top of new trends as well as new and emerging market opportunities that are of interest to you.

Get in touch
Until next month.

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