Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has released a new report to help Florida agricultural producers export their products to India.
Bronson is taking steps to improve the worldwide market share of Florida farmers. Agriculture ranks second to tourism as one of Florida’s top industries.
The 60-page report, titled “India: Road to Success,” presents data obtained during marketing research missions conducted over the past four years by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in conjunction with the Southern United States Trade Association.
“The Indian market presents opportunities for exporters worldwide, and we want to help Florida’s agricultural producers develop an understanding of the economy, culture, demographics and consumer preferences of this dynamic country,” Bronson said in a release.
Marketing representatives conducted consumer research in four major areas of India: Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and the tri-city region that includes Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. More than 1,600 individual consumer surveys were completed, providing insight into the buying habits of Indians.
Research shows a modern and sophisticated retail grocery sector is emerging amid the 12 million roadside kiosks and shops that traditionally have provided the nation with its supply of food. With a gross domestic product that has increased an average of more than 7 percent annually for the past decade, a reduction in tariffs and the easing of government restrictions on foreign investment, India’s economy is expanding at a pace rivaling China’s.
“An estimated 120 million affluent Indian consumers are fueling India’s retail revolution,” Bronson said. “Currently this country has fewer than 2,000 U.S.-type supermarkets, but this number is growing rapidly. As grocery retailers expand, so does the need for imported products to satisfy consumer demand.”
