AIT Leads Buyer Mission to National Restaurant Association Trade Show in Chicago
AIT's Agriculture Trade Office (ATO) is organizing a buyer mission to the United States that will include visiting the National Restaurant Association Trade Show in Chicago, traveling to Georgia for a tour of southern agriculture and local businesses, as well as a visit to New Orleans, Louisiana. Trip dates are from May 16-24, 2008. The ATO is currently recruiting hotel and restaurant representatives including Food and Beverage managers, buyers, and major importers and food service distributors in Taiwan for this trade mission.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Trade Show in Chicago will be held from May 16-18. As the world's largest food service and hospitality event, the show will offer team members an opportunity to meet and network with industry representatives, test new equipment, do comparison shopping, and find new and innovative ideas for the Taiwan market. The team will depart Taipei on Friday, May 16 and arrive in Chicago later in the day.
On Monday, May 19 the team will depart for Atlanta, Georgia where the Georgia Department of Agriculture will organize field tours and company visits, followed by one-on-one meetings with local food processors/suppliers.
On Wednesday, May 21 the team will arrive in New Orleans, Louisiana for a tour of the city as well as additional field visits and business meetings. The team will visit the John Folse Culinary Institute on Friday, May 23. Here the team will observe twelve Taiwanese chefs who will be participating in a two-week long training program sponsored by the Southern U.S. Trade Association. Their program will be focusing on using unique ingredients from the southern states.
This mission will be self-financed. The ATO will arrange the travel logistics and some meals will hosted by various American groups. Please contact Agricultural Marketing Specialist Ms. Cleo Fu at (02) 2705-6536 ext.242 for the application form for this trip. The sign-up deadline is April 15, 2008. You can find more information about this program at http://www.usfoodtaiwan.org/.