Exhibition to promote 'Ceylon Spices' in US market

Members of The Spice Council (TSC) will attend the American Spice Traders' Association's (ASTA) centenary celebrations at Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, California which will be held from April 16-19.

Chairman TSC Sarada de Silva, D. A. Perera EOAS Organics (Pvt) Ltd and Ravi De Silva from GP De Silva International will represent the TSC at the ASTA celebrations.

The Council's participation at this global industry event will contribute towards popularising Ceylon Spices in the American market and promote the brand 'Ceylon Spices'.

de Silva has been invited to make a presentation on Ceylon Spices at the business meeting, and the Council will also take part in the Table Top exhibition which is scheduled for April 17. The ASTA centenary celebrations coincide with the annual conference where over 300 people from the global spice industry will gather.

He said our effort is to brand Ceylon Spices in niche and value added markets in the USA. TSC conducted two outward missions to USA in October last year and in March on a market expansion program to promote Ceylon Spices in addition to essential oils and organic spices.

TSC also brought an inward mission consisting of culinary experts and journalists who visited our spice plantations and also tasted Sri Lankan food. Now they are giving us the much needed publicity in their journals. TSC obtained reciprocal membership of the American Spice Traders' Association and the associate membership of the European Spice Association.

TSC acts as the apex body to meet the aspirations of stakeholders by unifying their efforts to realise the industry vision of 'Making Sri Lanka to be within the top five branded and value added spices and allied products marketers in the world'.

The Spice industry in Sri Lanka comprises all spices, allied products including herbs and aromatic plants which are grown or could be grown in the island as well as value added products such as essential oils, oleoresins and spice blends and packs which are produced using local raw materials/imported inputs.

The main players in the sector include smallholder producers, family owned plantations, plantation companies, traders, exporters, industrialists, processors, R&D organisations, brokers and other stakeholders.

Work is currently under way for Sri Lanka to obtain protection under geographical indication for Ceylon Cinnamon under the TRIPS agreement of the WTO and subsequently for other Ceylon Spices.