Metzger Specialty Brands, located in New York, New York, made their first export sales to Canada in 2008 with support from the Branded Program. The company used Branded Program funding to help offset the cost of bilingual labeling for Canada, as well as in-store promotions, demonstrations, and shipping samples. Their export sales to the country have gone from nonexistent to $12,000 in 2008, and they expect this number to double in 2009. According to Tim Metzger, President of Metzger Specialty Brands, "This has been a very collaborative effort. Without the support of Food Export-Northeast, we could never have undertaken the promotional activities were doing in Canada. They help us defray some of the costs, making it all worthwhile."

The specialty company also made a first-time export sale to Germany through the Food and Beverage Buyers Mission at the Food Export Marketing Forum in April 2008. Metzger explained, "During our one-on-one buyer meetings through the Buyers Mission, we met with one of the largest specialty retailers in Germany. After trying our products, they ordered 150 cases. This has given us great exposure abroad. Food Export-Northeast and Food Export-Midwest were critical because they put us in touch with the right buyers."

Metzger Specialty Brands of New York, New York, produces a unique all-natural line of premium pickled vegetables under the brand name Tillen Farms. The vegetables are hand-packed at the peak of freshness into a special hot brine of vinegar, herbs and spices, keeping their crispy crunchiness, appearance, and fresh-from the field flavor. Tillen Farms products are 100 percent natural, cholesterol free, Kosher certified (except asparagus), gluten free, and fat free.

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are private, non-profit associations of Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agricultural products. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.