Japan cassis Association - trip to NZ

In January 2007, the Japan Cassis Association travelled to NZ for a board meeting, to see the NZ industry firsthand, and for exchange between specialists from both countries.

This trip include Mr Sato (Meiji President), Mr Sasaki (Aomuri Mayor), and specialists Dr Miyanaga (Association Chairman and Ophthalmologist), Dr Ichihashi (Dermatologist), Dr Osama Katsumi (Ophthalmologist), and Dr Kato (Associate Director, and Vice President, Hirosaki University).

After enjoying the hospitality of the Japan Cassis Association and our insight to Japanese culture, it was a pleasure to welcome the trip to New Zealand with a powhiri - welcome.

Also in the party were growers from Aomuri who were quite impressed by the scale of operations in NZ. They were interested in learning about handpicking in New Zealand - so they were given the job or picking a large bowl of blackcurrants for lunch at David and Nola Eder's place. In the second picture here, we see one of the blackcurrant dishes especially prepared for the tour - from Pescatore Restaurant at The George Hotel Christchurch - Study of Blackcurrants, comprising blackcurrant geniose, blackcurrant confit apple salad with lemon cream, blackcurrant sorbet and warmed spiced shooter

Thanks to the growers who gave up much of their time at an important time of the year - particularly Murray and Marilyn Stephens, David and Nola Eder and Phil and Raewyn Hyatt who all hosted at their homes. Carolyn Lister of Crop and Food took a simple visit to Crop and Food Research and made it a very well received opportunity to exchange information.

Thanks also to Clayton MacIntyre at ENZA, and the Gibbs at Gibb Holding who showed the group around their facilities. To Mike Kearney-thanks also for giving some of the group the opportunity for a boat trip and trekking at Abel Tasman, which they were all excited about afterwards.

Over two days we heard from the Japanese specialists, and then in turn heard from Crop and Food, HortResearch, and the Bioactivity Investigation Group of Otago University about the work that is being carried out in NZ.

And of course, we did have to have a round of golf - the score was a close win to New Zealand.

There is great interest on both sides to collaborate on research, with agreement that a research working party be established to keep the momentum going.

Feedback from this trip suggests that we have been able to cement the Japan/ New Zealand relationship, and at the highest level Meiji is genuinely keen to push this further.

We were also able to get blackcurrants on various menus, and above is a photo of the desert from Pescatore Restaurant at The George Hotel Christchurch - Study of Blackcurrants, comprising blackcurrant geniose, blackcurrant confit apple salad with lemon cream, blackcurrant sorbet and warmed spiced shooter. Blackcurrants were provided to the restaurants by Alan and Vicki Dobson, We were also Sujon, and Barker Fruit processing - thanks for your help here.

The Air NZ flight back to Japan also had a blackcurrant option- mousse with blackcurrant sauce.

Second Blackcurrant Summit - August 2006

On 2 August 2006, the second Cassis Summit, organised by the Japan Cassis Association, was held at Aomori. This is the region in Japan where blackcurrants are grown.

The New Zealand industry was represented by Phil Hyatt, BCNZ Chairman; Ian Turk, BCNZ CEO, and Alan Dobson, exporter. At the summit, Phil Hyatt presented reasons why we can say that NZ Blackcurrants are the best in the world. Phil spoke of our focus on quality and food safety, the research programme (including breeding) into health properties, industry structure, and NZ's blackcurrant culture.

The summit gave us the opportunity, from an industry point of view to:

• assess the impact that the promotions have had in the market up to now.
• To see first hand what products are flowing into the market, and are becoming available to the consumer.
• For independent industry evaluation at first hand, of the effectiveness of our market strategy into Japan

On the Wednesday morning, we took an early flight to Aomori - one and a half hours north of Tokyo. That morning we met with the President of Meiji Seika, Mr Sato, and the Mayor of Aomori along with other members of Meiji and the Aomori City Council. Aomori was preparing for the first day of the Nebuta festival, one of Japan's biggest, and one in which we had been invited to take part.

Later in the day we were observers to the Cassis Association Board meeting. Here Hiroshi Tomisawa of NZ Berryfruit Group was made a Director of the Board. Hiroshi's appointment recognises his standing in the industry as our industry representative.

The Cassis Summit followed the board meeting. At the Summit we heard addresses by scientists on benefits of blackcurrant in relation to eye health, and glaucoma, followed by blackcurrant food preparation demonstrations by the hotel chefs. Further information is available from the Japan Cassis Association website. The dishes were tasted by a panel including a Ministry of Health and Welfare dietician, the local Aomori Cassis Association president, a nationally recognised chef/ food critic, and the MC. Immediately following the panel discussion, these dishes were comprised the afternoon tea. The interest around the food tables were an indication that everyone at the seminar enjoyed the dishes as much as the panel.

That evening, the NZ delegation, were deeply honooured to be invited to participate in the Nebuta Summer Festival. Aomori's population is 360,000, but over the week of the festival, 3,000,000 people come to town. The sights and sounds of the festival were an experience that we all enjoyed greatly - a special chance to enjoy a slice of japanese culture.

The next day we paid a formal visit to the Mayor and his staff at the City Hall. With Japanese media we were taken on a tour which included a Japan jam factory, agricultural training center, and local growers. What we found to be impressive, was the range of products that they are producing , and the immense local government support. We see a stronger link between the Aomori and NZ growers as beneficial to both parties.

First Summit - February 2006

In January 2006, the NZ industry received an invitation to attend the launch of the Japan Cassis Association, at its first Summit. This function was held at the NZ Representation Centre at the NZ Embassy, Tokyo on 14 February.

This function was to be the first formal forum to promote the health benefits of (NZ) blackcurrants based on scientific evidence.

The Associations objective is "education of and dissemination of Cassis made in New Zealand".

Seminar

• Presentation from NZ representative - I Turk - CEO BCNZ.
• Awarding of Certificate from NZ in appreciation of Japan Cassis Association's work, and letter of thanks from Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Economic Development
• Cassis Lectures - Relationship between Cassis and Eye - Dr Miyamaya
• Cassis Lectures - Relationship between Cassis and Skin beauty- Dr Itchachi.
• Panel Discussion Naotada Sato, Seizo Sasaki, Dr Miyamaya, Masamitsu Ichihashi, Editor of Nikkei Health, President of Hime Club (Woman's Club), Hiroshi Tomisawa

The formal part of the evening was followed by a Cassis Reception, including fresh cassis drinks, consumer products made from New Zealand Cassis and cooked produce

At the Cassis Summit there was an impressive range of blackcurrant products, particularly f rom Meiji Seika, but also local product from Aomori grown blackcurrants.

The image shows members of the Board, and speakers, with the NZ Ambassador to Japan. From left to right are: Masamitsu Ichihashi, Naotada Sato, Seizo Sasaki, Dr Miyamaya (Association Chairman and Eye specialist), John McArthur (Ambassador) and Ian Turk (BCNZ)

Following the seminar, there was sufficient interest from the attendees to agree that a second summit meeting be held later that year.

Blackciurrants NZ Ltd congratulates the Japan Cassis Association on its work so far, and looks forward to working with it in the future.