Gourmands graze, buy at Food Show

Food show isn't really an apt description -- the 2004 Taipei International Food Show is really a food carnival.

Visitors strolled from booth to booth yesterday, availing themselves of the free samples of biscuits, preserved fruits, cheese, juice and wine.

Women dressed in traditional Korean clothing enthusiastically offered kimchi to passersby, while other models gave out small cups of Japanese sake.

The show opened yesterday and runs through Sunday at the first exhibition hall of Taipei World Trade Center.

According to the event's organizer, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會), the four-day show has attracted a record-breaking 741 exhibitors from this country and 23 others, who are occupying 1,469 booths.

Those figures are an increase of 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively, from the previous show two years ago.

Last year's show was cancelled because of the SARS epidemic.

"We're looking for new wine products that have unique tastes," said Jessica Yuan (袁德珮), marketing director of Drinks Wines & Spirits Co (橡木桶洋酒), the nation's largest retailer of imported wines and spirits.

The increase in the number of wine exhibitors this year, however, may not necessarily translate into market potential as the nation's wine market is already saturated with a rich array of items, Yuan said.

For Spain's Antonio Cano E Hijos, an olive oil producer, the show is a good opportunity to promote its products, which first hit the local market last December.

"I also came here to help improve the business relationship with our local agency," said first-time exhibitor Maria Dolores Sanz of the Spanish company

While wine and olive oil captured the limelight at foreign pavilions, 146 local companies -- un-der the guidance of the Council of Agriculture -- have tried to make their booths unique in order to enhance their international marketing efforts.

To put Taiwan on the map, the council designated four products -- the fish Taiwan Tilapia, orchids, oolong tea and mango -- to be the main focus of agricultural exports this year.

Beating a gong to mark the opening of the Taiwan Pavilion yesterday, council Chairman Lee Ching-lung (李金龍) urged the public to support and promote the nation's high quality food products.

Several purchasing workshops are scheduled to be held in conjunction with the show, targeting potential agricultural buyers from Hong Kong, Macau and Western countries, according to TAITRA.

The food show also features cooking lessons, musical performances and interactive games. It will be open to the public tomorrow and Sunday. Admission is NT$250 per person.