RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that Northland Forest Products (NFP) has increased sales into its export markets as a result of VEDP’s international trade programs. The company graduated from the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program in 2013. Since that time, NFP has seen a steady increase in export sales. Through market visits to Poland in 2012 and 2013, NFP found new customers in central Europe. Two market visits to China also led to increased sales to NFP’s largest Asian market. Finally, in 2015, NFP will be participating in its third VEDP-led trade mission to Southeast Asia, where the company has seen its sales increase each time visiting this emerging market. NFP is now exporting to 23 different countries.

“The trade missions offered by VEDP are excellent,” said Scott Seyler, Vice President of Export Sales at NFP. “We have found the missions to be great opportunities to meet with well qualified potential customers in target markets. The organization of these trips is very strong, with great support before, during and after the mission. VEDP works with top quality partners around the globe to ensure that Virginia companies meet with strong potential customers. On each VEDP Trade Mission in which we have participated, I have been impressed by the quantity and quality of the meetings and how efficiently the visits were conducted.”

Northland Forest Products, based in Fluvanna County, Virginia, produces its own brand of hardwood lumber that comes from the forests of the northern Appalachians and northern New England, where climate and topography produce some of the most sought after hardwoods in the world. With two export locations on the east coast of the United States, Virginia and New Hampshire, NFP provides a wide selection and reliable supply of species, thicknesses, and grades as well as Forest Stewardship-certified wood from well managed forests. NFP supplies special requests to meet difficult specifications, including length, grade, and color sorts, and fixed-width strips. NFP’s commitment to marketing innovative, responsible forest products has led the company to offer an exciting product for the green building industry: Cambia thermally modified lumber. Cambia is a product that is sourced from North America’s well-managed temperate forests and is an affordable and environmentally –friendly alternative to tropical hardwoods, wood/plastic composites and to plastic siding and trim.

VEDP assists Virginia companies in increasing their international sales through a wide range of international trade development programs. Programs include market research available in 70+ countries, arranging international business trips for Virginia companies, VEDP’s Going Global Defense Initiative (GGDI) for defense contractors, and VEDP’s marquee Virginia Leaders in Export Trade program.

“Fluvanna County is now reaching customers in 23 different countries,” said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “This kind of success shows us that the game of exporting can be played by all Virginia businesses, whether they are small, medium or large, or whether they are located in urban, rural or suburban communities. Helping existing businesses like NFP find new markets outside the U.S. is one of the most effective business expansion strategies. I am pleased to see more results of Virginia’s outstanding international trade programs.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP offers numerous programs to assist Virginia companies with selling into the global marketplace.