Through provincial and European Commission funding, MAI was engaged over a 2 year period to provide market research and export promotion to over 50 specialty food and beverage producers in the Italian regions of Campania and Sicily interested in accessing the U.S. market. In addition, MAI researched, qualified and secured introductions to U.S. distributors, wholesalers and retailers attending the gourmet food show in Atlanta interested in carrying these Italian specialty wines, liqueurs, mozzarella di buffalo cheese, confectionery products, and value-added vegetable products such as sun-dried tomatoes. MAI also led a delegation of buyers from New York, Atlanta and Chicago to Agrigento, Catania and Ragusa, Sicily to meet with Sicilian suppliers and to visit the manufacturing facilities of each.