n FFF Associates, Inc. 1127 High Ridge Road, PMB 137 Stamford, Ct 06905-1203 Phone: 203/329-7220 Fax: 203/329-3766 E-Mail: peter@fffassociates.com Web: www.fffassociates.com

Peter Furth

Curriculum Vitae

Peter Furth has over 35 years of experience in food, spices, specialty foods, and international trade in the United States and around the world. Mr. Furth has in-depth experience in export market promotion, small business creation, small and medium enterprise capacity building, trade association capacity building, and implementing environmental protection and sustainability programs. He also has expertise in the exportation/importation and processing of high value products and non-timber forest products such as spices and herbs, regulatory issues in the United States and Europe concerning foods and agri-chemicals, development of entrepreneurial skills and new business opportunities and the implementation of product focused projects. Mr. Furth works extensively with government funded projects and private clients in the food industry. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Consultant for marketing, international agricultural development, business management, and food/spice industry. Consultant activities included analysis of international trade, sales and marketing and regulatory affairs and government relations; creation of small business, facilitation of credit programs, export marketing and promotion, trade association development, and implementation of environmental protection and sustainability programs. FFF ASSOCIATES, INC. Stamford, Connecticut 06905 (1994 to present)

• Food, Spice, and Agri-chemical Industry Consulting: International trade, sales and marketing, operations, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and government relations.

• International Agricultural Development: Including creation of small businesses, facilitation of credit programs, training and development, export marketing promotion, trade association capacity building, and implementing environmental protection and sustainability programs.

• Marketing Consulting: Development and implementation of cost effective marketing programs that can be implemented in manageable increments.

• Business Management Consulting: Sales and marketing, operations, procurement, MIS, organizational development, including training and development, and human resources

Specific Consultancies Include: 2011 – 2012 Apricot Marketing Expert – Local Development Program, Kyrgyzstan, IFDC/USAID.

Consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the dried apricot value chain and provide recommendations for handling, processing and marketing interventions.

2011 – 2012 Serbian Flora Association Development Advisor – Agribusiness Project, Serbia, DAI/USAID. Consultant to assist with the development of a sustainable trade association for the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants sector. Also working with other trade associations, such as the organic trade association to provide planning and guidance. As well, assisting the sector in implementing programs to improve quality, production and cultivation, and export marketing. Designed and led a Trade Mission to the United States to learn about associations there and attend ExpoEast – the natural products and organic trade show.

2011 Apricot Export Association Advisor – Productive Agriculture Project, Tajikistan, ACDI/VOCA/USAID. Assisting the newly formed association for the producers and exporters of apricots and other dried fruits to structure a sustainable trade association to support the industry’s needs. Providing guidance and facilitation to create and implement a strategic plan for the association, as well as a road map to implement the plan. Also providing guidance on developing a training and education program for all levels of the value chain, improving their quality, marketing, export promotion, as well as determining how best to open new markets.

2010 Product Analyst – High Value Commodities – Multi Year Assistant Project (MYAP), Haiti, World Vision and Land O’Lakes/USAID. Consultant for the assessment of possible high value crops – particular Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to be targeted for development and export to the United States during the coming years.

2008 – 2010 Industry Specialist and Consultant, ProMali project, Albania, SNV (Holland) and Denmark. Continue to provide overall guidance to the herbs and spice industry Albania with respect to trade association development, local capacity building, institutional development, quality assurance and export market development.

2003 – 2008 Market Specialist, Albania Enterprise Development and Export Market Service, DAI/USAID. Continued to provide overall management and program implementation for US AID funded project to assist the herbs and spices cluster in Albania, especially for export development.

2005 – 2007 Senior Agribusiness/Marketing Specialist, Asia Regional Biodiversity Conservation Program, Winrock/USAID. Served as the Senior Agribusiness/Marketing Specialist to assist the project in developing, strengthening, and expanding rural businesses that are compatible with biodiversity conservation in the Far East, particularly in the Cat Tien area of Vietnam. Assisted the project team in identifying key areas of improvement needed, bottlenecks and constraints, and opportunities for Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as bamboo handicrafts and essential oils. Also, helped identify major supply/value chains and interventions needed to help achieve the project’s goals and objectives. This included market research, consultation and guidance on the development of a rural enterprise training program and curriculum, and conducting training sessions in the field.

2005 – 2007 Spice Industry Expert, The Competitiveness Initiative, Sri Lanka, Nathan Associates Inc. and J.E. Austin Associates/USAID. Served as one of the Spice Industry Experts assisting The Competitiveness Initiative in their market development program for “Ceylon Spices” in the United States, as well as managed the follow up consultations and presentations, along with two trade missions to the United States and an inward trade mission for food industry writers and editors to Sri Lanka.

2006 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Specialist, Agribusiness Development Program, Moldova, CFNA/USAID. Served as an industry expert, assisting the Agribusiness Development Program to assess the potential of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) sector in Moldova, provide export development and marketing guidance, and provide training and expertise to companies and the sector at large in supply chain areas of importance, such as harvesting, post harvest handling, processing, marketing, and quality assurance.

2004 – 2005 Senior Agribusiness/Marketing Specialist, Environmental Support to Raise Rural Incomes in Asia, Winrock/USAID. Served as the Senior Agribusiness/Marketing Specialist on this specialized project that is looking at ways to increase rural incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam and Cambodia.

2004 – 2005 Micro/Sector Economist and Subcontract Manager, Grenada Business and Agriculture Revitalization, Carana/USAID. Provided expertise and subcontract management for the program in areas of traditional cash crops, particularly nutmeg and cocoa. Oversaw the program to clean up and restore farms and plantings, as

well as lead an effort to provide longer term strategic planning to the government and relevant associations in this sector.

2004 Herb, Spice, and Essential Oils Consultant, Seal of Quality and Agribusiness Assistance Program for Macedonia, Agland Investments/Land O’Lakes/USAID. Conducted an assessment of the herbs and spice potential in Macedonia and provided strategic planning and guidance to the project for future activities.

2001 – 2003 Assistance to the Albanian Agricultural Trade Associations, Herbs and Spices Project. IFDC/USAID. Provided overall management and program implementation for US AID funded project to assist the herbs and spices sector in Albania.

2003 – 2005 Market Specialist, Market studies for spice in Sri Lanka. J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. Conducted market studies and assisted in strategic planning for the spice industry cluster for the Sri Lankan Competitiveness Project.

2002 Marketing Specialist, for food products and specialty products, Team Canada Atlantic

Trade Mission. Matchmaking consultant role providing market information and qualified appointments for companies in food, seafood, furniture, and other industries attending trade mission in New York City.

2001 PASOS Project – Peru. Chemonics International. Conducted market study and

analysis of selected herbs and spices in the United States. 2000 – 2001 Albanian Private Forestry Development Project (APFDP). Chemonics International.

Project consultant working with herbs and spices sector to begin development of a trade association and provide technical assistance to the industry.

Also work with several clients and companies to advise them with respect to quality assurance, processing, marketing, and export development of high value agricultural products. Assist them in their marketing and sales of various food products in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Clients represented include those in Turkey, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. AMERICAN SPICE TRADE ASSOCIATION, INC. (ASTA) Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (1991 to 1994). Responsibilities included day-to-day manager of the Association’s programs (such as government relations, public relations, and technical), membership services (such as meeting and conventions, communications, and member relations), and finances. Project Manager for the Association’s Ethylene Oxide, Methyl Bromide, and other Special Projects. Treasurer, Methyl Bromide Task Force, Inc., a coalition of food industry end users; Member, National Coalition of Food Importing Associations; Member, US Delegation, Food Hygiene Committee, Codex Alimentarius Commission; Member, FDA Import Council in the Port of New York. LOUIS FURTH, INC. Maspeth, Vice Chairman (1990-1991), President (1988-1990),Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (1986-1988),Vice President (1977-1986) and Assistant to the President (1976-1977)

• Quality and service oriented family run business importing and processing spices, herbs, and spice seeds for sale to the spice, baking, and food industries.

• While active in the management of the company, sales rose from $12.9 million to $23.3 million. • Responsibilities included general management and administration, purchasing and procurement,

and sales and marketing activities. • Also responsible for strategic planning and legal and regulatory matters. • Extensive experience in international trade, counter-trade, negotiating, and labor relations. • Developed and implemented project to build new warehouse and processing facility in

cooperation with city and state agencies. Worked closely with general contractor, process engineer, and machinery suppliers to supervise the project.

• Served as President and Chief Operating Officer after sale to MacAndrews and Forbes in 1988. • As Vice Chairman, duties included analysis of purchasing, sales and marketing, market trends,

and computer needs.

• Explored and developed specific entrepreneurial and new business opportunities, both domestic and international.

• Served as the Corporation's specialist and representative in regulatory and trade association matters.

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, Washington, DC. Economics, legal policy, and regulation internship (1975-1976). Responsibilities included research on the history of government regulation, regulatory reform legislation, and the regulation of the broadcasting industry. Involved in the establishment of AEI's Center for the Study of Government Regulation. Assisted in the editing of publications, various conferences and television panel shows. LINKEDIN PROFILE: HTTP://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/PUB/PETER-FURTH/B/1B0/789 EDUCATION: MBA: Management and Organizational Behavior. New York University, Graduate School of Business

Administration, New York, NY. Degree granted 1979. BA: Economics with Distinction, University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, NY.

Degree granted 1976. LANGUAGES: Fluent in English (mother tongue) Working knowledge of French PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: Participant in the CEO-UBS Small Business Advisory Program, a William J. Clinton Foundation – UBS Wealth Management Americas Partnership (2011-2012)

American Botanical Council • Member (2005 to present)

American Spice Trade Association, Inc. • Member (2001 to 2008 and 1976 to 1991); Member, Board of Directors (1986-1991); Chairman,

Government Relations Committee (1989-1991); Member, Arbitration Board; Chairman, Trading Group; Chairman, Pesticide Strategy Subcommittee.

Association of Food Industries • Corporate Member (2002 to present)

Connecticut Business and Industry Association • Corporate Member (1994 to present)

Herb Research Foundation • Member (2001 to present)

Institute of Food Technologists • Member (2004 to present)

Jamaican-American Chamber of Commerce • Corporate Member (1992 to present) Vice President (1992-1998); Member, Board of Directors (1988-

1998)

Plant Conservation Alliance – Federal Native Plant Conservation Committee • Member (2003 to present) PUBLICATIONS, ARTICLES, & SPEECHES: “Dried Apricot Sub-Sector Report,” IFDC/USAID, November-December 2011.

“Tajikistan Foods Association – Strategic Plan and Roadmap,” ACDI-VOCA/USAID, September 2011.

“Serbian Flora Strategic Planning Document,” DAI/USAID, July 2011.

“High-Value Commodity Development Study – Haiti,” with Derryck Cox. Land O’Lakes and World Vision/USAID, December 2010.

“Six Month Development Plan and Work Plan for Essences Producers, Cultivators, and Exporters Association – Albania.” ProMali Project/SNV and Danish Government, August 2010.

“Essences Producers, Cultivators Association Due Diligence Report.” ProMali Project/SNV and Danish Government, May 2010.

“Raising Rural Incomes While Conserving the Environment – Non-Timber Forest Products, Specialty Agriculture Products, and Compatible Enterprise Development in Cambodia and Vietnam” – Final Report, with Maureen DeCoursey. Winrock International/USAID, November 2005.

“Public-Private Partnerships to Raise Rural Incomes and Protect the Environment; Vietnam and Cambodia,” with Maureen DeCoursey. Winrock International/USAID, June 2005.

“Payments for Environmental Services: Innovative Incentives for Protecting Natural Resources and Increasing Rural Incomes,” with Maureen DeCoursey. Winrock International/USAID, June 2005.

“The Spice Market Expands,” with Derryck Cox, Food Technology, August 2004.

“Development of the Albanian Spice and Herbal Products Cluster – Final Report,” Assistance to Albanian Trade Associations Project, IFDC/USAID, December 2003.

"Development of the Albanian Spice and Herbal Products Cluster," Presentation to the Industrial Leadership Symposium for the Preservation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Plant Conservation Alliance/Medicinal Plant Working Group, October 2003.

"Sri Lanka Spice Sector: Market Opportunities in North America," with Derryck Cox, Sri Lanka Competitiveness Initiative, J.E. Austin Associates, Inc./USAID, September 2003.

"Market Study of Aromatic Herbs and Spices in the United States," PASOS Project - Peru, Chemonics International, Inc./USAID, April 2001.

"Albanian Spices and Herbal Products – Market Survey and Analysis," Albania Private Forestry Development Program, Chemonics International, Inc./USAID, February 2001.

"Development of the Albanian Spice and Herbal Products Association," Albania Private Forestry Development Program, Chemonics International, Inc./USAID, November 2000.

"Changes in Quality Parameters in the United States," Report of the International Spice Group Meeting, International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/GATT, November 1991.

"Promotion of Spices in the United States: A Case Study," Report of the International Spice Group Meeting, International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/GATT, November 1991.

"World Factors and the Need for Cooperation, Collaboration, and Credibility," Presentation to the World Spice Congress, India, November 1992.

"Americans Are Getting Spicier," Frozen Food Digest, March 1993.

Regulatory Reform: A Survey of Proposals in the 94th Congress. American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Washington, DC, November, 1976.

Participated in the Indonesian Agricultural Road Show in New York (November 2005), as well as the US Agency for International Development Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets Conference in Cairo, Egypt (January 2006).

Also have given numerous presentations, testified before the United States International Trade Commission, given speeches on Quality Issues for the Food Industry, HACCP, ISO 9000, and Food Sterilization Technologies, and appeared on television and radio, in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and in promotional videos.