NEW YORK—There has been a constant stream of visitors to the T&T Pavilion at the 60th Summer Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javits Centre in New York. They are sampling a range of local treats, including aloo pie with condiments, sugar cake, Carib, Mackeson, Shandy, tamarind and pepper sauces with pholourie, as well as roti and a dipping sauce and other food items.
These are being displayed by the 13 T&T companies participating—Carib Brewery, KC Confectionery Ltd, National Canners Ltd, Associated Brands Industries Ltd, Vemco Ltd, Smaks Luxury Group Ltd, RHS Marketing Ltd, Chatak Food Products Ltd, The Roti Factory, Asma’s Roti, Flavour Me Rite, Jus Rite Creations and Tobago’s Gourmet Granola.
Trade Minister Vasant Bharath, who is part of the T&T delegation, said he was pleased to see “the stunning presentation of our country’s manufacturers on the world stage.” Also in attendance are Joel Jack, Secretary for Finance and Enterprise Development in the Tobago House of Assembly, Robert Tang Yuk, chairman of exporTT Limited and Dr Rohanie Maharaj, chairman (ag), Food and Beverage Industry Development Committee. Tang Yuk said the show “represents a critical mass of potential for our local manufacturers.” The Summer Fancy Food Show, which ends today, is North America’s largest specialty food and beverage event. It brings in more than 40,000 attendees from more than 80 countries with more than 260,000 innovative specialty food products on display.
Yesterday, Bharath, Neil Parsan, Ambassador to Washington, and Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam, T&T’s Consul General to New York, distributed samples and shared details on the local products displayed. Bharath also met with a potential investor from Palm Ventures LLC. The T&T Pavilion features overhead pictorial displays of bright, vivid scenes of the country’s treasures, including its food, national buildings, beaches, festivals, musical instruments, and culture. There are displays of professionally packaged products; with branded countertops. Exhibitors were able to create business linkages.