For Immediate Release Contact: Curt Cultice

May 9, 2011 (202) 482-2253

Commerce Official Honors San Francisco Bay Area Company With Export Achievement Award

SAN FRANCISCO – Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service Suresh Kumar today presented the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate to Green Toys Inc., of Mill Valley, Calif. The award recognizes businesses that have benefited from U.S. Commercial Service export assistance to make its first export sale or expand to new foreign markets.

“Green Toys is a prime example of how innovative California businesses are tapping global markets to increase their sales which support jobs and economic growth here at home,” Kumar said. “Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers are beyond U.S. borders, and through the National Export Initiative, we must continue to give U.S. businesses a competitive edge by making the necessary investments that will lead America into the future. I commend Green Toys on its outstanding export accomplishments.”

Green Toys is a company dedicated to providing environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional toys. Manufactured in America from curbside collected plastic milk containers, Green Toys products are non-toxic, save energy, reduce landfill waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The firm has seen an 80 percent growth in sales each year since it began operations back in 2007.

With the assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service in San Francisco and abroad, Green Toys has made sales to South Korea, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Hong Kong, and several other markets.

“Through the Commercial Service’s export counseling, we have been able to successfully secure representation in multiple international markets in far less time than had we tried on our own,” said Green Toys Inc. co-founder and vice president Laurie Hyman. “As a result, we have been able to expand our company while adding new jobs at our California headquarters.”

As part of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service connects U.S. companies with international buyers through a worldwide network of offices located in 109 U.S. cities and more than 75 countries. For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service visit www.export.gov.

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