Hong Kong –(ASIA TODAY)– According to the US Department of Commerce, Californian food producers are on target to export more than US$4 billion worth of fresh produce, health & organic foods, and fine wines to Hong Kong and China in 2014. Last year, consumers here and on the mainland ate and drank their way through US$3.899 billion worth of Californian food products, a 19.5 percent increase on 2012. The overall rise in consumption spending and demand for higher quality food products should lead to a similar double-digit increase by the end of 2014.
Hong Kong and China shoppers are discriminating more and more about their food purchases. They are actively seeking out more information about nutrition, sustainability and safety, which is driving demand for higher quality products. Quality tends to be associated with “country of origin”, something that consumers respond to when making purchasing decisions. California and U.S. food products are positioned as high quality, which helps to explain the growth of U.S. food exports across greater China.
Hong Kong's annual HK Food Expo 2014 will again see leading Californian food and drink producers displaying rich and diverse produce from The Golden State. There will also be opportunities for food sampling and wine tasting sessions throughout the show at the California, USA Pavilion, at booth 5F-F11 (on the fifth floor).
Commenting on Hong Kong and China's increased imports of Californian produce, Jeff Williamson, Director, California State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP), said:
“The growing number of food and wine products imported to HK and China is a tremendous achievement of California's produce gaining acceptance, at an ever increasing rate, with the discerning palates of consumers in Hong Kong and China. Rising exports reaffirms a long-standing commitment to provide a diverse, quality product portfolio to customers."
Food Expo 2014 will see Californian exporters showcasing quality-assured food and beverage products such as organic foods, nuts, premium chocolate and candies, baby foods, wines, cheeses and other manufactured food items.
Well represented this year are producers from the confectionary sector with premium chocolates and snacks made with real fruit extracts to satisfy the traditionally sweet-toothed Hong Kong and China consumers. The taste for chocolate and treats is such that China is now the world's second largest confectionary market.*
A leading sweets manufacturer, Yummy Earth produces great tasting candy and confectionary products from real fruit extracts and planet friendly ingredients grown on sustainable family farms, which are safe and healthy for kids. Other exhibitors from California at HK Food Expo 2014 include Initiative Foods, Drunken Dragon, North America Food Company, Watlington Foods LLC, Guglielmo Winery, Premier Organics and Poindexter Nut etc.
About California STEP
The California State Trade and Export Promotion (California STEP) project leverages a statewide network of state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to facilitate export promotion, activities, serving targeted industries, to drive exports for small businesses.
Managed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Centers for International Trade Development (CITD), the network of STEP Partners implement a range of export promotion programs (20 trade missions and activities for 2011-2012) serving multiple sectors, including: Information & Telecommunications Technologies, Green Technologies, Food and Agricultural Products, California Lifestyle Products, Water Technologies, Scientific Instrumentation, Transportation Equipment and Industrial Machinery.
* According to Confectionary News: http://t.co/DFoP4WOF0H
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