Korean Specialty Food Trade Mission to Winter Fancy Food Show 2023 Leads to $3 million in Potential Export Sales

ATO Seoul brought eight Korean food importers from seven companies to the Specialty Food Association’s 47^th Winter Fancy Food Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 15-17, 2023. This trade mission introduced the Korean importers to American specialty food products and suppliers. Attendees discovered the future of food with the newest specialty food and beverages in a variety of product categories on the show floor and toured several retail markets in the neighborhood. The trade mission resulted in dozens of serious contacts made through the meetings and an estimated $2.97 million in potential purchases from U.S. food suppliers over the next 12 months. Korea imported $10.7 billion of U.S. food products in 2022 and ranked the fifth largest food export market for the United States. In 2022 the category of U.S. agricultural exports to Korea with the highest value was U.S. consumer-ready foods including beef, wine, dairy, and processed foods.

ATO Seoul Promotes U.S. Seafood

ATO Seoul partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and Food Export USA Northeast to organize a U.S. Pavilion at the 20th Busan International Seafood and Fisheries Expo 2022, November 2 – 5.  ATO Seoul, ASMI, Food Export Northeast, and two U.S. seafood supplying companies provided information on U.S. seafood products to Korean buyers, exhibited samples, and met with visitors in the USA pavilion. The event generated a number of serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers interested in a range of U.S. fishery products. South Korea is the United States fourth largest export market for fishery products. Korea imported $217 million worth of U.S. seafood in 2021. Alaska pollack surimi, flat fish, frozen Alaska pollack fish, roe and milt of Alaska pollack, live lobster, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, other squid, roe and milt of fish other than Alaska pollack, live hagfish, and cod were 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 theATO Seoul Seafood Market Update 2022

Korean Fresh Produce Buyers Delegation to 2022 IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, October 25-30, 2022

ATO Seoul organized a delegation of five Korean fresh produce buyers to the 2022 IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, held in Orlando on October 25-30, 2022. The delegation included buyers from hypermarket, department stores, an online retailer. The Global Produce and Floral Show is the largest event for the global fresh produce and floral supply chain, held annually by the International Fresh Produce Association IFPA). ATO collaborated with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) to arrange a trade tour to visit the citrus packing house and the grove. The delegation also visited six local retailers, The program was helpful in enhancing 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 U.S. suppliers.