Rich in minerals, Jeollanam-do bay salt publicized abroad [Science & Technology Division] 286-5040
- Jeonnam Provincial Office, Salt Fair from November 12… To be developed as an international fair from next year -

The Jeonnam Provincial Office announced on the 10th that the first national ‘Salt Fair 2009’ will be held at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju for 4 days from November 12th to the 15th in order to publicize the foreshore bay salt and expand sales channels.

With the theme of salt and the subtitle of ‘Treasure chest of minerals, the sun salt of Jeollanam-do’, this fair will be a venue where visitors interested in health and healthy eating can experience diverse bay salt products.

While providing correct information about the locally produced premium bay salt to general consumers and supporting sales to increase local residents’ income by creating new demand through diversification of sales channels, the Jeonnam Provincial Office aims at developing bay salt as an international premium brand.

Bay salt from Jeollanam-do is produced under optimal conditions to enhance the qualities of salt, such as the clean sea and foreshore as well as pure air and long sunshine hours. Therefore, Jeollanam-do bay salt is being acknowledged as an outstanding product that contains more potassium and magnesium than salt from Guerande, France, which is highly recognized around the world.

This salt fair will include purchase consultations by invited local and overseas buyers in order to explore new markets. At the same time, a variety of programs will be offered, such as skin massages with beauty salt, tooth brushing with salt, pounding of bay salt in mortar (making powdered sesame mixed with salt), visiting a saltpan area, cooking demonstration and bay salt quiz contest.

While the fair is held, the ‘Bay Salt and Salt Plant Industrialization Project Team’ of Mokpo National University will scientifically demonstrate the excellence of the bay salt. A symposium will also be held to discuss export strategies and uses of the foreshore bay salt in traditional cooking. As such, the salt fair is already receiving great interest from consumers and related industries.

“Through this fair we will gain knowhow for operation and content development so that we will be able to develop it as an international event from next year,” said Director Hwang Gi-yeon of the Science & Technology Division of the Jeonnam Provincial Office. He added, “Salt is a fundamentally essential food item for the human body. In particular, Jeollanam-do bay salt is rich in minerals. So, we will make consumers realize that this is a product for healthy living and will develop our bay salt as an international premium brand.”

Companies wishing to participate in the Salt Fair 2009 are invited to send in applications downloaded from the websites of either the Jeonnam Provincial Office (www.jeonnam.go.kr) or the Gwangju International Food Fair (www.foodshow.kr).

Companies producing, processing, distributing and selling salts as well as those manufacturing and selling fermented food items using salt and manufacturing devices and equipment necessary for salt production are encouraged to participate in this fair.