The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief, today announced that Atlantic Canada's distinctive and delicious cuisine will be on the menu next week in one of the world's hottest food destinations.
Seventeen food and beverage companies will travel to New York City as part of a larger Team Canada Atlantic Trade Mission organized by the Government of Canada and provincial governments. A mission highlight is the "A Taste of Atlantic Canada" reception being held November 5 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Broadway.
"Atlantic Canadian companies offer a wide range of world-class products and services, and we are pleased to help them showcase these during the Team Canada Atlantic Mission to New York," said Minister Byrne. "The intended purpose of this trade mission is to build upon the success of the initial mission to New York in May, 2002 and further expand our exports to this key US market. I recognize the importance of follow-up, which is why I am heading up this mission. We opened the door in May, now we must keep it open and continue to work to further expand our exports to this key US market."
"This is a great opportunity to showcase the quality of Atlantic Canada's cuisine," said Minister Vanclief. "We have a lot to offer when it comes to high-quality, safe food, and this event will ensure the New York market is well aware of that fact."
Michael F. Currie, Minister of Development and Technology for Prince Edward Island, will be speaking at next week's reception in New York. "The experience and quality represented through our companies speaks well for Atlantic Canada's business community, and I am confident we will continue to have excellent results in this vibrant market," said Minister Currie. "We are travelling to New York once again because we have a great respect for that market and believe there are many more opportunities for Island companies to explore."
Participating Island companies on this mission to New York include: Prince Eddy (Lyndale), Prince Edward Aqua Farms (Kensington), PEI Pork Plus (Charlottetown), Triple Threats Musical Theatre School (Charlottetown), and Island Quality Vegetables (Montague).
To showcase the region's quality food in New York, chefs from the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown are busy finalizing a menu. The distinctive Atlantic fare will feature dishes such as salt cod croquettes with spicy sour cream, curried seafood chowder and roasted squash marquis with wild mushroom ragout. The chefs will travel to New York to prepare these dishes, using fresh ingredients from Atlantic Canada.
Their contribution will support the trade team participants in their efforts to nail down new business in New York. The reception will promote the entire Atlantic region as a source of the highest quality food.
The US is Atlantic Canada's largest export destination for agriculture and agri-food products. Exports to the region more than doubled in the second half of the 1990s, reaching more than $600 million by the end of the decade.
New York is the international business and finance centre of the critical US market. It has a population equivalent to Canada's, a GDP nearly 50 per cent higher and is a critical market for Atlantic Canada.
Gaining ground internationally through the quality, safety and environmentally sustainable production of Canadian food is a key component of the Government of Canada's long-term strategy for the agri-food industry. The Agricultural Policy Framework will help the Canadian sector better respond to increasing consumer demands and global competition.
The Team Canada Atlantic Trade mission will run from November 5-7.
For more information on the mission and the participating companies from Atlantic Canada visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com