Leaders from six state departments of agriculture and representatives of 39 companies are taking part in what Acting Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse is describing as “the largest U.S. trade mission to date.”

Scuse is leading the delegation to Chengdu and Shanghai on a trip that starts today, the Agriculture Department announced Thursday.

Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Darci Vetter and U.S. Chief Agriculture Negotiator Islam Siddiqui will join the group in Shanghai.

China has become the single largest market for U.S. agriculture products. Scuse noted in a news release that Chinese demand for bulk commodities is already high and that its interest in high-value products such as meat and processed foods continues to grow. USDA, he added, now has seven offices in China.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese and representatives from North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota make up the state delegations.

Participating companies and their principal products

1. AgWorld International, Illinois — Breeding stock, livestock, veterinary equipment
2. Airfresh Seafood, Washington — Seafood
3. The Biltmore Company, North Carolina — Wine, tourism
4. C.I.B., Minnesota — Barley, biotechnology
5. CK International, Ltd., Iowa — Pork and pork products, produce
6. Case New Holland, Delaware — Equipment
7. China Iowa Group, Iowa — Animal feed, consumer and industrial goods
8. Cranberry Marketing, Massachusetts — Cranberries
9. Dantzler, Florida — Forestry products
10. Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa — Education
11. Diamond V, Iowa — Animal feed
12. Dodge City Beef, Kansas — Beef
13. Duck Pond Cellars, Oregon — Wine
14. Faegre B.D. Consulting, Iowa — Legal consulting
15. Far West Fruit Co., Oregon — Fruits and vegetables
16. Garuda International, California — Food ingredients
17. Glacier Treasures, New York — Wine
18. Herr's Foods Inc., Pennsylvania — Snack foods
19. KH International, Georgia — Dried fruits and nuts
20. Kerns and Associates, Iowa — Agricultural risk management
21. Land ‘O Lakes Purina, Washington — Dairy, feed and processed products
22. North Food Group, Texas — Meat, poultry, seafood, grocery products, produce
23. OSI Group, Hong Kong — Commercial food sourcing
24. Pacific Ag Commodities, California — Grains, inputs, ingredients, oil, dairy, grocery products
25. PS International Ltd., North Carolina — Meat, poultry, edible oils, flour, sugar, other commodities
26. Sage Hill Northwest, Washington — Feed products
27. SIG International Iowa, Iowa — Pork
28. Spring Lake Winery, New York — Wine
29. Stine Seed Company, Iowa — Seeds
30. Sun-Maid Growers CA, California — Dried fruit
31. Syngenta, LLC, Wisconsin — Biotechnology, seeds
32. Taylor Brothers Farms, California — Prunes, cherries, pomegranate products
33. Ten Square International, Iowa — Import/export
34. U.S.-China Ag Center, Iowa — Non-profit
35. U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C. — USDA cooperator group representing corn, barley, grain sorghum, agribusiness
36. Valley Pride Sales, Inc., Washington — Potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, spirits
37. Valley Proteins, Inc., Virginia — Recycled animal fats and proteins
38. Vermeer Corporation, Iowa — Equipment
39. World Wood Wholesale, North Carolina — Wood