Published Wednesday, 11 June, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Quality and safety keys to Korea market for Queensland beef
Minister for Trade John Mickel wants to further expand an already successful Korean market for Queensland beef, and will highlight the State’s quality, safe beef credentials at a promotion for buyers of Australian meat and wine in Seoul tonight.
“Queensland produces the highest quality export beef drawn from diverse production areas including the high country in the Southern Downs, the West, the North and Gulf regions, and Central Queensland encompassing Rockhampton - the Beef Capital of Australia,” Mr Mickel said.
“Korean people looking for quality meat will find it in Queensland beef,” he said.
He reminded the Korean food industry that Queensland is willing and able to supply a quality alternative beef product.
“I am hoping that the promotion tonight will help to encourage Korea’s food and restaurant industries to further embrace Queensland as a reliable provider of a full range of top-quality, traceable beef products,” he said.
“The event will again demonstrate the quality and safety of Queensland food, considerations paramount in the minds of Korean consumers. The event will also launch Australian Country Choice’s new organic beef hamburger product,” Mr Mickel said.
In 2006-07, Queensland exports to Korea included over A$980 million worth of food products. Over half of this figure ($584 million) was accounted for in exports of meat and meat products, primarily beef.
“There is still considerable will on the part of the Queensland Government and beef producers, and capacity to increase the amount of beef that Queensland supplies to Korea and I will be making that point when I meet with the buyers tonight,” Mr Mickel said.
The Queensland beef and wine promotion will be held at the Darling Downs Restaurant in Seoul. Korea’s OK Meat Inc. has established two high end Darling Downs restaurants, with the second located in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
The restaurants proudly list Queensland food and beverage products on their menus and feature beef products from the Australian Agricultural Company.
Australian Agricultural Company maintains 27 properties and 2 feedlots covering 8 million hectares in Queensland as well as the Northern Territory. Feedlot facilities are located on the Darling Downs and in Central Queensland, with processing facilities at Morningside, Brisbane. The company runs an average of 580 000 beef cattle.
“Australian Agricultural Company’s fully traceable, vertically integrated system is a perfect example of the kind of ‘paddock to plate’ product control that is capable of reassuring safety-conscious markets and providing the quality assurance sought by Korean consumers ,” Mr Mickel said.
Minister Mickel is currently leading a marine trade mission to Korea for the Korea International Boat Show.
Australian Country Choice: David Foote, 3902 4141
Australian Agricultural Company Limited: Pat Dempsey 3368 4420
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
June 11, 2008
“Queensland produces the highest quality export beef drawn from diverse production areas including the high country in the Southern Downs, the West, the North and Gulf regions, and Central Queensland encompassing Rockhampton - the Beef Capital of Australia,” Mr Mickel said.
“Korean people looking for quality meat will find it in Queensland beef,” he said.
He reminded the Korean food industry that Queensland is willing and able to supply a quality alternative beef product.
“I am hoping that the promotion tonight will help to encourage Korea’s food and restaurant industries to further embrace Queensland as a reliable provider of a full range of top-quality, traceable beef products,” he said.
“The event will again demonstrate the quality and safety of Queensland food, considerations paramount in the minds of Korean consumers. The event will also launch Australian Country Choice’s new organic beef hamburger product,” Mr Mickel said.
In 2006-07, Queensland exports to Korea included over A$980 million worth of food products. Over half of this figure ($584 million) was accounted for in exports of meat and meat products, primarily beef.
“There is still considerable will on the part of the Queensland Government and beef producers, and capacity to increase the amount of beef that Queensland supplies to Korea and I will be making that point when I meet with the buyers tonight,” Mr Mickel said.
The Queensland beef and wine promotion will be held at the Darling Downs Restaurant in Seoul. Korea’s OK Meat Inc. has established two high end Darling Downs restaurants, with the second located in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
The restaurants proudly list Queensland food and beverage products on their menus and feature beef products from the Australian Agricultural Company.
Australian Agricultural Company maintains 27 properties and 2 feedlots covering 8 million hectares in Queensland as well as the Northern Territory. Feedlot facilities are located on the Darling Downs and in Central Queensland, with processing facilities at Morningside, Brisbane. The company runs an average of 580 000 beef cattle.
“Australian Agricultural Company’s fully traceable, vertically integrated system is a perfect example of the kind of ‘paddock to plate’ product control that is capable of reassuring safety-conscious markets and providing the quality assurance sought by Korean consumers ,” Mr Mickel said.
Minister Mickel is currently leading a marine trade mission to Korea for the Korea International Boat Show.
Australian Country Choice: David Foote, 3902 4141
Australian Agricultural Company Limited: Pat Dempsey 3368 4420
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
June 11, 2008