While the export of Turkish food products to the USA increased from 5 million dollars to 800 billion dollars in the 1,5-year period, the Aegean Exporters' Association hosted in Turkey within the scope of the TURQUALITY Project Thomas Macrina, Past President of the American Culinary FederationHe stated that after getting to know Turkish food products through the TURQUALITY Project, he started using Turkish food products more in his menus.
“Sea bass, olive oil, dried figs are the flavors I use the most,” said Macrina, “The flavor and freshness of Turkish products are very good. I have come to a position where I can distinguish Turkish olive oil from olive oils from other countries. Turkish lamb is unquestionably number 1 in the world. The flavor of lamb meat in Turkey cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The strong ties we have established with the TURQUALITY Project will bring about a stronger representation of Turkish export products in the US market. We will be placing our first olive oil order very soon. Turkish branded olive oils will go to the US. Dried fruit bars will follow the olive oils. Olive oil and dried fruit bars will lead the way for other Turkish food products. Other food products will go to the US faster.”
Chef Hall of Fame Member and US Foods Senior Executive Anthony M. Rizzo emphasized that restaurants, hotels and markets in the US want to add new and quality products to their product ranges, that they have created demand from samples previously received from Turkey and that their recent visit to Turkey will enable new products from Turkey to enter the US market.
“The skills of people in Turkey in production make our job easier in the US market,” said Rizzo, continuing: “A supplier that produces quality products makes our job easier. Turkish manufacturers taking hygiene and sustainability seriously will provide greater representation of Turkish food products in the US market. The Turkish food sector’s goal of increasing its export volume to $5 billion in the US market is extremely realistic.”
Uçak: “The Strong Bonds We Have Established with Chefs Have Started to Be Reflected in Our Export Figures”
Aegean Exporters' Associations Coordinator Vice President and Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association President Hayrettin Uçak emphasized that they established strong ties with American chefs, buyers and universities in the 5-year period within the scope of the TURQUALITY Project, which strengthens the position of Turkish food products in the US market, and that these established ties will have positive reflections on export figures in the coming years.
Joint Action with American Chefs at Fairs in the US and Japan
Underlining that the Aegean Region is the leader in Turkey in the production and export of food products, especially fruit and vegetable products, dried fruits, olives and olive oil, aquaculture and animal products, non-wood forest products, grains, pulses and oilseeds, Uçak said, “While our food exports to the USA in general were 2018 million dollars in 708, it reached 2023 billion 1 million dollars by the end of 712. We aim to reach 2024 billion dollars by the end of 2. We are taking big steps to reach 5 billion dollars by the end of our TURQUALITY Project. It is very valuable for American chefs to move with us on this journey. We thank them for their support for our project. In the upcoming period, we will organize all the events we will organize in the USA together, and we will also be together at the Foodex Japan Fair in Japan in March 2025, where we will organize the Turkish National Participation Organization.”
Crete: “Our Fish Exports to the USA via Air Cargo Gained Speed”
Sharing that the Turkish aquaculture and animal products sector has made a major increase in capacity with the major investments it has made in the last 25 years and has reached a position of closing the world's protein gap by increasing its annual exports to over 4 billion dollars, Aegean Aquaculture and Animal Products Exporters' Association President Bedri Girit stated that the United States is one of the primary target markets for exports and that fresh fish exports to the USA via Turkish Airlines Cargo have gained momentum in recent years.
Girit, who called on American chefs to “Whatever you do, however you do it, use Turkish food products,” said, “We are the first in Europe in sea bass and sea bream. Sea bass and sea bream also stand out in exports to the US. We have recently started exporting Turkish salmon. Our cheese products are on the shelves of local markets. We have started to export honey and eggs regularly. Protein-based nutrition prevents obesity. The valuable fatty acids in our products directly contribute to brain functions and ensure the growth of smart generations. We would like to thank the chefs who contribute to our marketing activities in the US market.”
Coming to Turkey between 13-19 December 2024 US chefs Anthony M. Rizzo and Thomas MacrinaIn addition to visiting food businesses and restaurants, they also met with students from Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Faculty of Tourism and Yaşar University, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts.
They Entered the Kitchen at Yaşar University
Chefs who entered the kitchen with students from Yaşar University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department accompanied the students in making simit and boyoz.
Yaşar University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department Head Prof. Dr. Seda Genç stated that they are happy to be a stakeholder of the Turkish Tastes Project with their academic staff and students, and that they want their collaboration to continue and increase in the future.
Yaşar University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department Head Prof. Dr. Seda Genç concluded her words by saying, “Under the leadership of Yaşar University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Executive Chef Selin Güloğlu, the breakfast menu prepared by our students from the products of Pınar, one of Turkey’s leading food export brands, in the US market, included simit, boyoz, karakılçık bread, menemen, cheese varieties and höşmerim. Our students presented the flavors of İzmir to American chefs.”
İzmir Katip Çelebi University Tourism Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre Güler underlined that the tourism sector has a multiplier effect and that dozens of sectors from food to construction create added value in the tourism sector. Güler said, “It is very valuable for Turkey that American chefs have embraced the Turkish Tastes Project like Turks. We need to convert sectoral riches into sales. We are ready to provide all kinds of support for this project to succeed.”
The names that attended the program of American chefs at Yaşar University were Yaşar University President Prof. Dr. Levent Kandiller, Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association President Bedri Girit, Aegean Fisheries and Animal Products Exporters' Association Vice President Melih İşliel, Yaşar University School of Applied Sciences Director Prof. Dr. Ferika Özer.
Source: HORECA TREND and Aegean Exporters' Associations