2019 Japan Export Insights Tour

Fruit Growers Tasmania | Monday, 18 March 2019, 2.00pm

Japan Export Insights Tour 2019 header — Photo: FGT

FOODEX JAPAN is over for another year, and with it, FGT’s Japan Export Insights Tour for 2019. The tour took Tasmanian growers interested in exports to Japan to visit major wholesale local markets where they got to hear first hand from leading importers and retailers about the latest consumer insights, what they look for in a supplier, the products and characteristics they look for, and what their key price points are.

During the tour, growers also toured local supermarkets and retail outlets to look at in-store marketing practices, consumer behaviour and prices. The culmination of the export connections tour was FOODEX JAPAN, Asia’s largest food and drink trade show. Growers were able to present their products directly to Japanese importers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers at the Tasmania pavilion stand. Sponsored by Fruit Growers Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government, this stand emphasized Tasmania’s premium fruit, vegetables, salad greens, wine, cider, seafood and red meat products. The quality of this producer was highlighted by live cooking demonstrations by leading Japanese chef and restaurateur Koji Fukuda, whose popular Tokyo eateries specialise in offering Tasmanian food and wine products. These demonstrations proved a hit with attendees and exhibitors alike, with crowds eager to try some of the fresh samples he was preparing.

Tasmanian produce was a hit with local importers, distributors and wholesalers, who visited the stall to talk with exhibitors and sample a range of Tasmanian value-added products. Importers were particularly interested in sourcing fresh Tasmanian berries, apples, wine and seafood, and may be seen visiting farms across Tasmania in coming weeks as part of an inbound trade mission.

The trade show also coincided with a Tasmanian trade delegation to Japan led by Will Hodgeman, Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Trade. The Premier’s delegation met with representatives of Japan’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to discuss biosecurity and improving market access for Tasmanian food exports to Japan. The delegation met with growers and other exhibitors throughout the trade mission to reinforce the Government’s support to increase export trade with Japan.