Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2019

ATO Seoul partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to organize a U.S. Pavilion at the 17th Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2019, November 6 – 8. The event generated over 35 serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers interested in a range of U.S. fishery products. ATO Seoul exhibited U.S. seafood publications and provided information on U.S. seafood suppliers and U.S. food products to Korean buyers. ASMI participated in the U.S. Pavilion along with two companies supplying Alaskan seafood products to Korea: Trident Seafoods and American Seafoods Asia in Tokyo. South Korea is the United States fifth largest export market for fishery products. U.S. seafood products to Korea totaled $261 million in 2018; frozen Alaska pollack surimi, flatfish, Alaska pollack roe & milt, live lobsters, other fish roe & milt, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, atka mackerel, cod, live hagfish, and Alaska pollack fish are the top ten U.S. seafood exports to Korea. The United States is also an important market for Korean seafood. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read ATO Seoul Seafood Products Annual Report July 2019.

Korean Fresh Produce Buyers Delegation to 2019 PMA Fresh Summit, October 16-19

ATO Seoul organized a delegation of twelve Korean fresh produce buyers to the 2019 PMA Fresh Summit, October 16-19. The delegation included buyers from large retail stores, a department store, an online retailer, and a fresh produce distributor. Fresh Summit is the largest event for the global fresh produce and floral supply chain, held annually by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). ATO leveraged four of the Korean buyers’ participation in Fresh Summit, through PMA’s first-time buyers program and arranged field trips to farms and packers, farmers markets, and retail stores to enhance the buyers’ understanding of the American fresh produce supply chain and consumer trends. The Korean buyers were able to identify current trends of the fresh produce industry, build relationships with industry stakeholders, and have one-on-one meetings with 119 suppliers. As a result, their companies reported $10.9 million in sales of American fresh produce during the show and estimated an additional $58.0 million in sales within the next 12 months. ATO Seoul organized a delegation of twelve Korean fresh produce buyers to the 2019 PMA Fresh Summit, October 16-19. The delegation included buyers from large retail stores, a department store, an online retailer, and a fresh produce distributor. Fresh Summit is the largest event for the global fresh produce and floral supply chain, held annually by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). ATO leveraged four of the Korean buyers’ participation in Fresh Summit, through PMA’s first-time buyers program and arranged field trips to farms and packers, farmers markets, and retail stores to enhance the buyers’ understanding of the American fresh produce supply chain and consumer trends. The Korean buyers were able to identify current trends of the fresh produce industry, build relationships with industry stakeholders, and have one-on-one meetings with 119 suppliers. As a result, their companies reported $10.9 million in sales of American fresh produce during the show and estimated an additional $58.0 million in sales within the next 12 months.

California Wine Institute Trade Seminar & Tasting Seoul, October 14, 2019

The California Wine Institute (CWI) held a trade seminar and tasting in Seoul on October 14. Fifty-four California wine brands participated in the event, presenting over 300 different bottles. CWI Vice President for International Marketing in Honore Comfort joined the event, highlighting the importance of the Korean market for U.S. winemakers. U.S. wine exports to Korea totaled $22 million during the first eight months of 2019, up 11.4 percent from last year. Overall wine imports grow 6.3 percent during this period. CWI is planning a range of activities in 2020 to increase awareness in Korea of the quality, value and diversity of wine that California has to offer.