American Flower Industry Delegation Visits Seoul, October 6-8, 2019

Certified American Grown Flower Commission Administrator Dave Pruitt let a delegation of U.S. flower growers to Seoul, Korea on October 6-8. The delegation met with Korean cut flowers import distributors and held a seminar on premium U.S. flowers and foliage. The delegation also toured wholesale and retail supply chains in Seoul to learn about market trends and export opportunities. Korean consumer spending on flowers increased on average 6 percent each year over the last 15 years. Imports of flowers and foliage reached $123 million in 2018, up 14 percent from 2017. The United States is currently a minor supplier, accounting for only 1.2 percent of flower imports in Korea. Importers expressed interest in learning more about premium and specialty U.S. flowers and foliage during the visit.

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2019

The Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2019, co-hosted by ATO Seoul and the Korean Alumni Association of the Culinary Institute of America (KCIA), introduced diverse, high quality American agricultural products to Korean foodservice professionals. A project team of four talented young chefs under the KCIA presented on American restaurant industry trends as well as 16 inspiring recipe ideas that incorporated U.S. ingredients donated by 9 MAP cooperator organizations (ABC, CPB, CWC, RAC, Sunkist, USDEC, USMEF, USPGC, and Food Export USA) and 2 suppliers (ATL Korea and More Than Craft). The partner organizations and suppliers had booths at the event to showcase their products, and met with the 170 attendees. An electronic copy of the Culinary Camp Recipe Book containing delicious recipes and information on U.S. ingredients is available on ATO Seoul website (www.atoseoul.com). After the event, attendees reported that they had gained an better understanding of high quality U.S. ingredients and were more likely to use U.S. ingredients in the future.

Keeneland Korea Cup Race 2019 Highlights Strong Partnership between the U.S. and South Korean Horse Industries

Horses of American origin won the 4th Keeneland Korea Cup (1,800 meter) and Keeneland Korea Sprint (1,200 meter), the premier thoroughbred race in Korea, held in Seoul-Gwacheon racetrack on September 8. The race was hosted by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) with sponsorship by the Keeneland Association from Kentucky. Five high-profile American horses attended the race alongside many local Korean horses of American bloodline. The participation of American horses in the race was the result of a quarantine agreement on race horses that the U.S. Department of Agriculture negotiated with Korea in 2017. This agreement has provided a foundation for American racehorses to further promote their quality and value to the Korean market.

Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea attended the event and highlighted the strong partnership between the United States and South Korean horse industries. This cooperation contributed to Korea reaching Part II status for international racing in 2016. KRA and the local thoroughbred horse industry have imported genetics from the United States to strengthen the quality of local race horses. U.S. race horse exports to Korea reached $17.3 million in 2018, supplying three quarters of Korea’s horse imports.

Munhak Chief, 4 year old colt bred in the United States and trained in South Korea, won the Keeneland Korea Cup Race ($1 million purse money). Nine of the eleven horses that ran the race were American origin horses (7 locally trained horses and 2 air-ship traveled to attend the race). Blue Chipper, 4 year old gelding bred in the United States and trained in South Korea, won the Keeneland Korea Sprint Race ($660,000 purse money). Nine out of the sixteen horses that ran the race were American origin horses (6 locally trained and 3 air-ship traveled to attend the race).