USA Pavilion Features Quality Products at FOODEX Japan 2012

March 6, 2012

The U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) is co-organizing the 37th USA Pavilion at FOODEX JAPAN 2012, Asia's largest food trade show, March 6-9 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture.

The FOODEX Japan will celebrate its 37th year, and this will be the 36th year that the U.S. will host a pavilion. During this time, Japan has been an extremely important market for U.S. food products and the FOODEX has been an essential showcase for many of these products. The USA Pavilion will again be one of the largest at the show with 80 booths, featuring over 70 U.S. companies and trade organizations such as the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association, the Food Export Association of the Midwest and Northeast, the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association, the Southern U.S. Trade Association, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, American Indian Foods, the State of Illinois, and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, as well as many other small to medium sized U.S. companies.

ATO will also present and manage a food demonstration area. An assortment of American products such as lemonade, berries, figs, meats and condiments will be introduced with samples.

Japan is America's largest and most successful overseas export market for consumer-oriented products. With over $15.2 billion in annual exports of food and agricultural products and 60 years of experience, the U.S.-Japan agricultural trade relationship is arguably the most important in the world. A major part of this success has been our participation at the FOODEX.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos visited the USA Pavilion this morning and commented: "U.S. food and agricultural exports to Japan continue to grow, and last year, hit a record $15.2 billion. Likewise, Japanese agricultural exports to the U.S. also hit a record, demonstrating the strength of the agricultural trading relationship between our two countries."

FOODEX JAPAN 202, the 37th International Food and Beverage Exhibition (http://www3.jma.or.jp/foodex/en/) at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan. The USA Pavilion is located at Hall 1. March 6-9, 2012 / 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Close at 4:30 on the last day).

The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) is part of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The ATO's mission is to provide U.S. companies with marketing services to promote U.S. food and agricultural products in Japan.