On October 7-10, 2010, the Agricultural Trade Office participated in the Gwangju International Food Expo.

Two Korean importing companies, Simplot and Golden Bell exhibited U.S. products in the American pavilion. Simplot specializes in frozen potato products while Golden Bell is a leading imported of organic food product.

A Visit to Local Rice Winery Confirms a Rapid Growth of Traditional Liquor Industry in Korea, March 11, 2010

FAS Seoul team visited BaeSangMyun Brewery Co., Ltd. a leading traditional Korean liquor producer, on March 11 and participated in a rice wine making class along with a tour of the traditional liquor museum and culture center to get a better understanding about the traditional Korean liquor. Traditional local liquor products, in particular Mak-Gul-Lee (cloudy type rice wine), currently lead one of the hottest consumption trends in Korea due to the consumer’s elevated attention to traditional culture and local food. Rice wine industry has been one of the most active users of the American rice (medium grain) imported to Korea under the Minimum Market Access (MMA) quota agreement that Korea signed with WTO.

NASDA Visits Seoul to Promote FMI & NRA Show 2010 March 8-9, 2010

Dewitt Ashby, Director - Trade Shows, NASDA, visited Seoul and met with key local food traders and trade journals to promote upcoming FMI Show (May 11-13, Las Vegas) and NRA Show(May 22-25, Chicago). NASDA has been an active supporter of various marketing programs of ATO Seoul over the years. In particular, FMI and NRA Show, both co-organized by NASDA, have been one of the most efficient venues for the Korean food importers to meet with leading American suppliers and develop new products and business ideas. In addition to the meetings and press interviews, Mr. Ashby toured the local retail and food service industry to get a fresher look of the fast evolving Korean market. For more information about export assistances by NASDA, please visit the Internet homepage, www.nasda.org.