Oscar®, first French kiwifruit in Seoul, Korea

Oscar® brand kiwi's is finally making its way into the Korean market after becoming the first French kiwifruit in Asia 21 years ago. They gained the approval of official Taiwanese authorities in 1992 and with China following in 2009. This opportunity for French products was officially marked during the French Gourmet Festival in Seoul (South Korea) on the 1st of November 2013, by Guillaume GAROT, French Minister for Agribusiness. "Our clients are eager to taste the Oscar® kiwifruit and the first deliveries to Seoul are expected on or around the 29th of December.", declared Jean-Baptiste Pinel, Managing Director of the Prim’land sales office.

The Asian market is subject to particularly strict sanitary specifications, and approval procedures are the culmination of several years of work, scrutinising the know-how of producers and their packaging centres. "The contributions of the French Ministry for Agriculture (DGPAAT, DGAL, DRAAF SRAL) and the Ministry of the Economy and Finances (UBIFRANCE), were decisive in the handling of this export file, in liaison with the Korean sanitary authorities (QIA)", stressed François Lafitte, the man who set the process in motion with the ministries. The President of Prim’land acknowledged that it takes steadfastness to carry through the eight years of authorisation procedures with the quarantine services of the countries in question.

Prim’land plans to market 17,000 tonnes of kiwis, with over 35% in ASIA, during the 2013-2014 season. Not content with just doing business in France, Oscar® kiwifruit is growing strongly on the Asian market. Like Europeans, Asian consumers appreciate the flavour of Oscar® kiwi's and its consistent quality throughout the season.

For more information:
Jean Pierre CARUEL
Prim’land
Tel: +33 5 58 90 09 95
Email: Jean-Pierre.Caruel@primland.fr
www.primland.fr