Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2018, October 31-November 2

The U.S. Seafood Pavilion in the 16th Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2018, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 managed by ATO Seoul and Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) developed over 35 serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers of various U.S. fishery products. ATO Seoul exhibited various U.S. seafood publications and provided information on U.S. seafood suppliers and on U.S. food products in general for Korean buyers. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Japan also attended the USA Pavilion along with two companies supplying Alaskan seafood products to Korea: Trident Seafoods and American Seafoods Asia in Tokyo. Business meetings with local importers held in the USA pavilion exhibit space and American food brochures and other materials distributed in the ATO information counter were recognized by visitors as key events for developing business relationships between the two countries. In 2017, the United States was the fifth largest exporter with a market share of 4.7 percent exporting more than $233 million of seafood products to Korea. By value, frozen Alaska Pollack Surimi, live Lobsters, Flatfish, Cod, live Hagfish, Alaska Pollack Roe & Milt, Monkfish, Atka Mackerel, Other Fish Roe & Milt, and Alaska Pollack Fish were the top ten imported species. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read ATO Seoul Seafood Products Annual Report September 2018.

Korean Fresh Produce Buyers Delegation to 2018 PMA Fresh Summit, Orlando, FL, October 17-20

ATO Seoul organized a delegation of eight Korean fresh produce buyers to the 2018 PMA Fresh Summit, October 17-20. The delegation included buyers from large retail stores, a TV home shopping channel, 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 citrus farms and packers, and retail stores to enhance the buyers’ understanding of the American citrus supply chain and consumer trends. The Korean buyers were able to identify the current trend of the fresh produce industry, build relationship with industry stakeholders, and have one-on-one meetings with more than 50 suppliers. As a result, their companies reported $42 million in sales of American fresh produce during the show and estimated an additional $51 million in sales within the next 12 months.

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2018, September 4, Millennium Hilton Hotel Seoul

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2018, co-hosted by ATO Seoul and the Korean Alumni Association of the Culinary Institute of America (KCIA) successfully promoted the value, quality and diversity of American agricultural products to key decision makers of the Korean foodservice industry. A project team of four talented young chefs under KCIA presented an insightful presentation about American restaurant industry trends as well as 16 inspiring recipe ideas that incorporated various American agricultural products donated by 10 MAP cooperator organizations (ABC, CPB, CWC, NWCG, RAC, Sunkist, USAR, USDEC, USMEF, USPGC) and 2 suppliers (ATL Korea, Craft & Culture). In addition, the partner organizations and suppliers presented tabletop product showcase at the event and gained face-to-face contacts with the 170 attendees. An electronic copy of the Culinary Camp Recipe Book containing details of the recipes and products published for the event was made available on ATO Seoul website (www.atoseoul.com) along with cooking videos of the five recipes served at the event for on-line dissemination. An evaluation survey of the activity confirmed that the attendees gained better understanding and positive purchase intention on American products as a result.