A USDA trade mission will head to Casablanca, Morocco, from December 2 to 5. It aims to expand U.S. farm and food exports to Morocco and West Africa.

Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley will lead nearly 50 U.S. agribusinesses, trade groups and 14 state agricultural departments in the trade mission. Morocco is the second-largest U.S. agricultural export market in Africa. Last year, it accounted for over $619 million in U.S. farm and food sales. This was 16% of the continents’ market share.

U.S. Exports have doubled since the 2006 U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. Morocco’s stable economy and strategic position make it a key regional distribution hub. There is an increasing demand for consumer-oriented products due to its growing food processing sector.

U.S. exporters have opportunities in the beef, dairy, rice, seafood, soybeans, feed grains, seed potatoes and tree nut sectors. U.S. representatives will meet with potential buyers from Morocco and other West African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Senegal during the mission. State officials will include agricultural secretaries from Kansas, North Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Read more about the USDA trade missions to Morocco and West Africa here.