Mark Baker (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As part of the second major initiative under the Produce of Heaven campaign, 17 north-west Tasmanian agribusiness companies will travel to Hong Kong from 14 to 21 August to promote Tasmania’s north-west produce. Included will be a private networking function between Tasmanian north-west delegates and leading businesses in Hong Kong, including supermarkets, business leaders in the hospitality and restaurant industry, importers, trade and consumer media. Companies include Hellyers Distillery, Petuna Seafoods, Spreyton Fresh, Richey Fishing, Blue Hills Honey, Stanley Fish, Webster’s Fresh, Squibbs Apples, TasFresh Water, Ghost Rock wines, Kay Beef Farms and Greenham meat processing.

The Hong Kong food show is one of the largest specialist food exhibitions in Asia. This year, some 55 countries and 100,000 visitors are registered to attend. Produce of Heaven is the only Australian delegation to exhibit, which will create a high level of excitement within the Hong Kong local industry and build on the success of the Taiwan exhibition in June.

I have examples of some of the statements made by some of the companies. Webster’s Fresh said:

We made initial contact with a number of prospective importers of walnuts and have been offered an opportunity to test market at Jason’s, a high class gourmet food chain in Taipei.

Tim Hess from Petuna Seafoods said that there was much interest in their ocean trout. The seafood division of the Craig Mostyn Group said:

The visit to the Taiwan and Taipei Stand provided excellent access to all major buyers in Taiwan—

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