TOKYO, Japan — Alberta pork was showcased again this year at Japan’s annual FoodEx international food fair near Tokyo.
It was the second year Alberta pork has had a presence at the fair.
However, the meat has been coming to this country for 35 years, said Shoji Nomura, Japan marketing director with Canada Pork International.
Agriculture Canada says Aberta exported 39,278 tonnes of pork to Japan last year, including offal, which was up 12.32 percent from 34,970 tonnes in 2014.
Frozen pork has traditionally been most common, but imports of chilled product have been gradually increasing in the past five years.
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“Alberta pigs are basically fed barley, which results in meat that meets the taste of Japanese consumers, something that is increasingly recognized by the Japanese market,” Nomura said.
Backs, collar butt, belly, tenderloin and picnic shoulder are in the most demand, Nomura said.
CPI and the Japan Alberta Office have been promoting Alberta pork using social media such as CookPad to promote recipes that are suitable to Japanese tastes as well as new ideas.
They also conduct cooking seminars and in-store demonstrations.
Nomura said Alberta hogs’ barley diet is a main promotional feature.
“But not limiting ourselves to Alberta pork, CPI promotes all Canadian pork as safe and delicious to importers, distributors, end users such as retailers and the food service, down to consumers,” he said.
Alberta-produced Three Genetics premium pork is also offered in supermarkets and restaurants, he added.
“I think business for the product is expected to expand,” said Nomura.
