Modesto Company Wins U.S. Chamber Faces of Trade? Award

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today honored Innova Seeds with its Faces of Trade® award in recognition of the Modesto, CA-based company's tremendous impact on its community by increasing jobs through trade.

"Innova Seeds is a prime example of an American business successfully navigating the international marketplace," said Liz Reilly, director of TradeRoots for the U.S. Chamber. "Our award honors small and medium size companies in this country that are actively engaged in the global marketplace and creating jobs and opportunity."

Faces of Trade® awards are presented to small and medium size companies that have demonstrated outstanding international success through exports. Whether they have just entered the international market or have maintained considerable presence over time, the awardees are epitomize how good trade policy can lead to the success of small companies. These companies make a tremendous impact on their community by increasing jobs through trade. Faces of Trade® companies have fewer than 500 employees, are American owned and operated, and are driving the success of their business by expanding to new markets abroad.

Innova Seeds Co. is a California-based company that specializes in developing professional vegetable seeds for export to target markets around the world. The company has partnered with local breeders and international breeding institutes to provide growers with innovative varieties that include select species such as squash, tomatoes, watermelon, melon, and cucumber.

"Trade agreements and increased exports are vital to U.S. businesses, workers, and farmers, as 96 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States," Reilly said. "Through expanded trade, the United States will create new opportunities to sell products and services abroad, and consumers will benefit from lower prices and greater choices here at home."

More information about trade in California is available at: http://www.traderoots.org/state_home.jsf?issueId=2189

A company profile is available at:
http://blog.illumen.org/traderoots/docs/2009/06/innovaseeds-ced-ca-cj-09pic.pdf

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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