Natural Product Expo East (NPEE) 2014 Show

ATO Seoul recruited 10 Korean organic & natural products importers to the Natural Product Expo East (NPEE) 2014 Show in Baltimore, Maryland to develop trade opportunities. Maryland Department of Agriculture organized the site visits in Maryland in conjunction with NPEE 2014 Show. Site visits included a horseradish manufacturing company, Tulkoff’s, Towson Farmers’ Market in City of Towson, a natural & organic cow farm producing fresh milk and ice cream to their neighborhood from about 150 cows, Prigel Family Creamery and, Boordy Vineyard. It was an extraordinary opportunity to learn and experience U.S. farming, manufacturing and farmers’ market in this state. ATO Seoul arranged to visit several organic and high-end grocery stores including WholeFoods Markets, Traders Joe’s and several restaurants in the city to give Korean buyers a deeper the understanding of U.S. market for natural and organic food products. Post activity survey resulted in $1.37 million sales from the buying mission members over the next 12 months. Organic Trade Association (OTA) invited a dinner for Korean buying mission members with Mr. Robert B Anderson, Ms. Angela Jagiello, Ms. Monique Marez and Mr. Hal Shenson. During the dinner, discussions included the Korea-US Equivalency Agreement which was signed and implemented since July 1, 2014.

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul, September 23, 2014

Once again, the Great American Culinary Camp 2014, co-hosted by ATO Seoul and Korean Alumni Association of the Culinary Institute of America (KACIA) on September 23 in Millennium Hilton Seoul, successfully promoted the value, quality and diversity of American agricultural products to key decision makers of the Korean food service industry. A project team of four talented young chefs under KACIA, with very impressive backgrounds from New York City’s culinary industry, presented an insightful presentation about American restaurant industry trends. Together, these chefs created 16 inspiring recipe ideas that incorporated various American agricultural products donated by 8 MAP-supported cooperator organizations (USMEF, USDEC, CWC, CMC, RAC, Sunkist, ABC, USHBC) and 3 suppliers (Simplot, Nature F&B, Daekyung Ham). In addition, the sponsor organizations had a tabletop showcase together at the event and gained face-to-face contacts with the 150 attendees. The guidebook (PDF version) and UCC cooking videos of five recipes served at the event are available from ATO Seoul website. For more information about the Korean food service industry, please refer to the Korea HRI Food Service Sector Report 2014, also available from ATO Seoul website.

Korean Retail Food Buyers Delegation to Texas

A group of five retail food buyers from Korea traveled to Dallas, Texas under the sponsorship of Texas Department of Agriculture, August 11-15. The delegation had about 70 one-on-one business meetings with Texas suppliers during the trip. Additionally, the delegation visited various local retail stores and a pecan shelling plant and gained better understanding about the quality and value of products that Texas has to offer. Products that generated the most interest to the buyers included nacho chips, retail packed fruit tea beverages and non-dairy frozen desserts. As a result of the trip, the Korean buyers were likely to develop business partnerships with some of the Texas suppliers in the coming months.