The Australian Macadamia Society will host a celebrated Korean chef and TV star Kim Poong and two high-powered Korean health & lifestyle bloggers in the Northern Rivers next week (Tues 26 – Fri 29 April).
The international visitors will tour Australia’s largest macadamia growing region, where they will visit a selection of macadamia farms, meet local growers, tour farmers’ markets, enjoy delicious macadamia dishes at local restaurants, be pampered with macadamia beauty products and see iconic local tourist attractions including the Macadamia Castle.
Schedule
The guests arrive in Australia next Tuesday 26 April, and get their first taste of our native nut during harvest time at a high tea at the majestic Duck Creek Macadamias orchard, before meeting local macadamia producers and suppliers at a special cocktail event featuring all-things macadamia at Elements of Byron.
On Wednesday 27 April, the trio will take a 4WD tour of Brookfarm macadamia orchard and rainforest with local grower and retailer Martin Brook, where they will learn about the history of Australian macadamias, before Kim Poong whips up a macadamia dish in the orchard using local ingredients. That evening, they will meet more local macadamia growers at a macadamia degustation dinner at Beach Byron Bay.
On Thursday 28 April, the visitors will tour Byron Farmers Market with a local chef before meeting some furry native friends at Macadamia Castle, and then sampling locally brewed beers matched with flavoured macadamias at Stone & Wood Brewery. The highlight on Friday 29 April will be a treasure hunt through Byron Bay restaurants and cafes, where the Koreans have two hours to find the ‘best’ macadamia dish.
Aim
The aim of the event is to promote the unique story of Australian macadamias to Korean consumers, with the chef and bloggers expected to share their Aussie macadamia experience with millions of Korean people via social and mainstream media.
The tour is part of the Australian macadamia industry’s international marketing program, which identified Korea as one of its priority ‘new’ markets, launching its first major promotional campaign there in 2013.
The program continues to undertake significant expansion into the Korean market. “Macadamias are becoming very popular in Korea, with total imports increasing by five-fold over the last five years. We believe this market has the potential to grow as big as our Japanese market,” says the Australian macadamia industry’s Market Development Manager Lynne Ziehlke.
“Both these markets place a high priority on clean, green production and appreciate the premium product we can deliver.”
The Australian macadamia industry marketing program is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the macadamia industry levy.
Media are invited to attend the following activities where there will be interview and photo opportunities:
Cooking demonstration at Brookfarm macadamia orchard – Wed 27 April (11am-1:00pm)
Visit Macadamia Castle – Thur 28 April (10.30am-1pm)
Treasure hunt through Byron restaurants and cafes for the best macadamia dish (Fri 29 April 10:30am – 11:00am)
ENDS
Media enquiries for photo/vision/interviews to:
Lynne Ziehlke
Market Development Manager – Australian Macadamia Industry
Tel: 02 6622 4922 / Mob: 0488 032 248
There are more than 650 Australian macadamia growers producing around 47,000 tonnes nut-in-shell of macadamias per year. Australia is the world’s largest producer of premium macadamia kernel, exporting approximately 70% of all macadamias to more than 40 countries globally. More than $150 million worth of Australian macadamia products are exported each year.
