Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) recently hosted a highly successful inbound trade mission March 26-28 in partnership with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA), connecting international buyers from India and Vietnam with West Virginia’s log and lumber industry.
The mission focused exclusively on forest products, with visiting buyers touring log yards and sawmill facilities across the state. These site visits provided a firsthand look at West Virginia’s high-quality hardwood resources, sustainable forestry practices, and production capabilities. Stops included Cherry River Lumber (Richwood), Meadow River Hardwood Lumber (Rainelle), and Laurel Creek Hardwoods (Richwood). In addition, buyers met with additional companies in one-on-one meetings before the site visits.
Throughout the mission, participating companies had the opportunity to build relationships, discuss specifications, and explore export opportunities with vetted international buyers. The effort resulted in multiple contract awards, underscoring strong global demand for West Virginia hardwoods and wood products.
“SUSTA inbound missions like this create meaningful opportunities for our natural resource industries,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, current president of SUSTA. “By bringing international buyers directly to our operations, we are helping West Virginia businesses expand their reach and compete in global markets.”
“This mission gave our companies the chance to build strong, direct relationships with international buyers and showcase the quality of West Virginia hardwoods firsthand,” said Ashley Amos, WVDA Business Development Planning Coordinator and SUSTA liaison, who led the planning and coordination for the visit and regularly participates in SUSTA trainings and programming. “The connections made during these visits will continue to create opportunities for our producers well into the future.”
The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is a non-profit organization that works to promote exports of food and agricultural products from the southern United States, including value-added and natural resource-based products. Through programs such as inbound trade missions, market development support, and export assistance, SUSTA helps small and medium-sized businesses grow internationally.
WVDA partners with SUSTA to support West Virginia producers and businesses interested in exporting, providing access to valuable resources and global connections.
Companies interested in learning more about export opportunities or participating in future trade missions are encouraged to contact the WVDA Business Development Division at 304-558-2210.
For more information about WVDA programs and services, visit agriculture.wv.gov.
Site visit to Laurel Creek Hardwoods
Site visit to Laurel Creek Hardwoods
Site visit to Cherry River Lumber Company
Site visit to Meadow River Hardwood Lumber Company
Buyers from India and Vietnam attended a kickoff dinner in Summersville on March 26, followed by two days of meetings and site visits.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.