Chilean Gourmet Foods and Specialty Food Products Take Center Stage at Summer Fancy Food Show, June 27-29, 2010

NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- This year ProChile New York, the Trade Commission of Chile, continues its mission to introduce Chile's high quality gourmet products and premium wines to American consumers as well as to the US food trade. The best of Chile's artisanal and specialty food products -- from premium oils to exotic spices and wines -- will be on display for the ninth consecutive year at the 56th annual NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show at New York's Jacob Javitz Center from June 27 to June 29, 2010. Chile's iconic flavors, reflective of the country's unique geography, will be spotlighted in a series of tastings and live cooking demonstrations at the Chilean Pavilion. Among the new products to be introduced this year are a meltingly tender jamon Patagonico de wagyu, or Patagonian wagyu ham, made with well-marbled wagyu beef, along with a unique smoked Patagonian lamb ham, an artisanal extra-virgin canola oil and a handful of natural, healthy snacks that draw upon the indigenous Mapuche food traditions, including ready-to-eat quinoa puffs.

"Chile is one of the fastest growing food exporters in the world and one of the US's largest exporting partners," said Trade Commissioner Alejandro Cerda of ProChile New York. "The earthquake has not significantly affected our ability to produce and export food products, and we are planning a full presence at New York's show this year. Our goal is to continue to raise awareness about the variety and high quality of Chilean food products and wines among consumers and trade, as well as emphasize the safety of our products, in particular since the new National Food Safety Policy was enacted in May 2009. This policy has created a modern, integrated national food system that guarantees the safety and quality of all foods produced, processed and sold within Chile."

The Chilean Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show -- the fourth largest international pavilion after Italy, France, and Spain -- will host over 30 specialty food companies and a number of national food associations, featuring an array of distinctive gourmet and ecologically sustainable food products, ranging from extra-virgin olive and avocado oils to sea salts, fruit preserves, unique nuts and spices, specialty honeys, healthy snacks, premium wines, and carica.

Special Flavors of Chile live cooking demonstrations and food and wine tastings will take place each day from 11:00 - 3:00 pm at the Chilean Pavilion, featuring signature dishes created and prepared by chef Pilar Rodriguez. Chef Rodriguez, renowned in Chile for creating menus inspired by the country's rich wine heritage and distinct local ingredients, will demonstrate the most creative ways to use Chile's distinguished food products. A selection Chile's premiere wines will complement the demonstrations.

One of Chile's newest food associations joining the Fancy Food Show this year is AsoGourmet, the Association of Producers and Exporters of Gourmet Products of Chile. Now boasting 70 members, AsoGourmet was created in 2008 to give small Chilean producers of specialty foods a stronger voice in the export market. In partnership with ProChile, Chicago Importing Company and KeHe Distributors, AsoGourmet will unveil "Unearth Chile," a trade program aimed to introduce a selection of Chilean artisanal food products to prominent US retailers.

Located on the west coast of South America's tapering cone, Chile is 2700 miles long and just 110 miles wide.  Its length and extraordinarily diverse geography provides an unsurpassed climatic range and soils that are suitable for a very wide range of food production. As a southern-hemisphere country, Chile's growing seasons run counter to the growing seasons of countries in the northern hemisphere. Chile supplies high-quality produce to the United States throughout the winter.

Benefiting from a long tradition of economic stability and the 2004 passage of the free trade agreement with the United States, Chile is an increasingly important partner to US businesses across major sectors, including food. Currently ranking among the world's top 16 leading food-exporting countries, Chile has also become a major player in the global food arena, supplying more than 150 countries around the world with fresh and processed foods and beverages, including fruits, vegetables, seafood, wine, meat and poultry, and olive oil.

About ProChile

ProChile, the Trade Commission of Chile, is part of the General Directorate of International Economic Affairs of Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is responsible for implementing and enhancing Chile's trade policy. ProChile's mission is to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises, helping to encourage and diversify exports of Chilean products and services by increasing the number of export markets and companies. It does so by providing the necessary tools to aid Chile's economy in its process of going international. ProChile's Trade Offices and Agencies are located in over 50 countries, covering 90 percent of the destination markets for Chilean exports. For more information please visit www.chileinfo.com or email [email protected].

SOURCE ProChile