Yeongju City, in South Korea’s North Gyeongsang Province, is taking center stage at Asia’s largest food expo to showcase the global appeal of its local agricultural specialties.
From the 10th through the 13th, the city is attending FOODEX JAPAN 2026 in Tokyo, using the four-day event to spotlight its best products and pursue overseas markets.
Local exporters Yeongju Grape Export Agricultural Cooperative and Rasam Agricultural Company are on site, presenting processed goods made from Yeongju’s signature Shine Muscat grapes and mountain-grown ginseng as they court the Japanese market.
Yeongju Grape Export Agricultural Cooperative (CEO Bae Seok-jun) is exhibiting Shine Muscat jam and raisin products that preserve the grape’s natural high sweetness and rich aroma. The items are packaged in convenient tubes for easy use. Since Japan is the grape’s place of origin, the cooperative plans to target the market with distinctive processed products rather than exporting raw fruit.
Rasam Agricultural Company (CEO Kim Young-ah) is introducing a handmade "Hanppuri Rasam Tea" made from mountain-grown ginseng. The whole plant—from root to leaf—is low-temperature dried to retain the ginseng’s characteristic aroma and active compounds. The company expects the product to appeal to Japanese consumers who prioritize health and tea culture.
At the expo, Yeongju City will meet with local buyers, monitor market trends, and analyze competing products to build a stronger foundation for expanding exports of its regional specialties.
Kang Mae-young, director of distribution support, said the city will actively pursue buyer meetings and market-trend analysis through FOODEX JAPAN 2026, which offers a comprehensive view of global food-market shifts. "We will continue working to raise the brand value of Yeongju’s specialties, diversify our export lineup, and secure stable overseas distribution channels," she added.
FOODEX JAPAN is Asia’s leading food trade show, drawing food companies and buyers from around the world each year. The event is widely regarded as a key international forum for spotting global food trends and identifying new export opportunities.
