THREE Korean traders and retailers visited Sunraysia on Wednesday hoping to strike a deal for the region’s top-quality produce.
Ko Myung Soo and Lee Joon Haeng, of Ara Trading Co, and Won Suh, of Hyundai Department Store, met a representative of the Victorian Government and Australian produce growers to discuss expanding the market for Australian table grapes and citrus in South Korea.
Mr Soo, Ara Trading Co president, said his company was the first to import fruit from Australia and was experiencing increased demand.
“In comparison with the table grapes from Chile and America, the demand for table grapes and citrus isn’t as great but last year they were very well received,” he said.
“We do believe the demand will keep increasing over time.”
Ara Trading Co has been exporting Australian produce to South Korea since 2015.
Rocky Mammone, of Elite Produce, said he hoped the meeting would go well in order to expend Sunraysia’s produce market internationally.
“We hope to support long-term relationships with new customers and a new country,” he said.
“It will mean diversification in the market, which is the main thing.”
Mr Soo said he hoped an export deal would come from the meeting.
“We want customers in Korea to enjoy more fresh produce from Australia and that the exports to Korea will continue to increase.”
