Florida Fresh produce will soon appear in more marketplaces across the Pacific as Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam declared a new business partnership with Taiwan on Wednesday.
Putnam made the announcement after a recent international trade mission by marketing specialists for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“We are proud to bring our unique brand and fresh produce to Taiwan,” Putnam said. “We continue to see growth in global exports of ‘Fresh From Florida’ products, proving that there is nothing better than what we grow right here in Florida.”
As part of the mission were more than 400 surveys with a cross-section of Taiwanese residents and analysis of local retailers. On significant contact was Jason’s Market Place and Wellcome Stores, which represent a combined 225 retail outlets in Taiwan.
Negotiations for an exclusive promotion in Taiwan will take place next year, the first time the state’s “Fresh From Florida” brand has partnered with stores in that country.
Including Taiwan, “Fresh From Florida” marketing will now be in 4,852 stores in 27 nations.
International agricultural exports are an essential part of the state’s economy, with more than $4 billion in cash receipts, making Florida, the eighth largest agricultural exporter in the United States.
Currently, Florida exports oranges, blueberries and grapefruit to Taiwan, which has the highest per capita intake of fruit in the world. The United States is the country’s top supplier for imported fruits and vegetables.
Among Florida’s other recent international Asian successes include joining a new promotional campaign in Japan for the first time is You/Me stores with 104 outlets around the Hiroshima region. A “Fresh From Florida” promotion will feature Florida blueberries and blueberry wine.
A two-year partnership with Outback in South Korea will bring “Fresh From Florida” grapefruit to 110 Outback locations and a new partnership with distributor Maeil Dairies in Korea will promote Florida orange juice.
South Korean distributor JinWon is expanding marketing and promotional activities with a focus on fresh Florida grapefruit in 431 Korean stores, as well as testing in 2,300 convenience store locations.
Okuwa grocery, located near Osaka, Japan, will enter its second year of promotion of fresh grapefruit in 172 grocery stores in Japan, and is considering a “Fresh From Florida” development with several products in 2015.
In Singapore, Growers Synergy will market Florida oranges and juice, as well as explore including Florida blueberries and stone crabs in their 170 retail stores.
