Portland Processing LLC (dba Claw Island Foods), located in Portland, Maine, in the 1st Congressional District, has utilized MAP-funded programs and services over the past nine years to develop and expand international sales of Maine lobster, Jonah crab and coldwater shrimp. Claw Island has participated in seminars, European Seafood Expositions, Seafood Buyers Missions at the International Boston Seafood Show and the 2009 Gulfood Show, in Dubai. Through Food Export-Northeast they had the opportunity to meet pre-qualified international buyers interested in their products. Sales & Marketing Director Emily Lane says, 'As a small business with a limited marketing budget, the benefits of this program are huge. Our export sales have steadily increased over the past nine years from 5% to 40% of our total sales."

Claw Island is currently exporting to over twenty countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. "In this time of economic challenges, and stagnation in the U.S. market, it is critical that companies such as ours receive financial assistance to remain competitive in the global marketplace and to have access to those markets." Claw Island's processor and sister company, Portland Shellfish: employees over 200 workers; purchases over 4 million pounds of Maine lobster, 6 million pounds of Jonah crab and 1 million pounds of coldwater shrimp annually; and runs two processing facilities in the Portland, Maine area.

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are private, non-profit associations of Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agricultural products. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.