The Harper Government will help raise consumer awareness and boost demand for Canada's high-quality food and beverages by showcasing the diversity of Canadian products at an event to be held tomorrow in Paris, France. International media, consumers, and importers will enjoy a unique opportunity to experience Canada's best food products.
"The Harper Government is committed to growing trade and helping exporters expand markets abroad. This event is a great way to show international buyers the best of what Canadian agriculture has to offer," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "By showcasing Canada's high-quality food, this government is raising awareness of the wide range of Canadian products that can be found on the shelves of supermarkets around the globe."
The food promotion event will be held at the Canadian Ambassador's official residence in Paris and will feature a cooking demonstration by two of the residence's chefs, Jérome Trayssac and Anthony Cady. The menu offers a wide variety of Canadian foods for guests to savour, including lobster, scallops, snow crab, bison, cranberries, blueberries, and wine.
This Savour Canada event will help position Canadian exporters in advance of SIAL Paris, one of the world's premier food exhibitions that will take place from October 21 to 25, 2012. More than 140,000 professional visitors from the food industry are expected to attend this year's event. Canada will have a strong presence there with 68 Canadian exhibitors participating, including 36 export-ready companies in the Canada Pavilion.
Canadian agri-food exports to the European Union are valued at $2.4 billion annually on average. Market development is a priority for the Harper Government under Growing Forward 2, and this food promotion event is another example of what is being done to enhance competitiveness and to drive innovation and long-term growth in Canadian agriculture.
This Savour Canada event was organized through Canada Brand, a Harper Government initiative that is building a stronger brand for Canadian food and agriculture in international markets.
Funded through the Agricultural Flexibility Fund, the Canada Brand initiative is designed to complement industry efforts in markets where challenges or opportunities exist. It includes a variety of marketing activities, such as advertising, retail in-store activities, and restaurant promotions.
