2008 PRESS RELEASES

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July 18, 2008
VDACS INVITES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO SEND PRODUCT TO THE GULF COUNTRIES CHEF COMPETITION
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686

As part of a continued effort to promote Virginia food products in the Gulf Countries, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is partnering with the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) to provide food products for a chef competition by the Emirates Culinary Guild in Dubai in September 2008.  Chefs from the major hotels in Dubai will prepare a three-course meal menu using Virginia and other southern states food and agricultural products.  Virginia companies are invited to participate in this opportunity by sending product samples that will be used by the chefs at the event.

Products sought include fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, sauces, spices and condiments, honey, syrups and select other products.  Producers interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to introduce their products to importers and key buyers in the Middle East should contact Keith Long in VDACS’ Office of International Marketing.  Call 804/371-8990 or e-mail keith.long@vdacs.virginia.gov.  The registration and product shipment deadline is July 31. 

There is no participation fee for this event and the only cost to participating companies is shipping product samples to a U.S. freight forwarder.  SUSTA will ship up to 35 pounds of product per company to Dubai for the competition.

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