Japan Discovers the Mediterranean Diet
Staff Writer - May 22, 2005
 Export of Italian food products such as pasta, canned tomatoes, olive oil and Parmesan cheese toward Japan is growing fast.
"The 21% increase in value of Japanese imports from Italy of food products such as Parmesan and Grana Padano cheese," said Coldiretti (the Italian Farmers' Union), "the 17% increase of canned tomatoes, the 5% of olive oil and the 3% of pasta, all go to show that Japanese consumers are discovering the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean Diet."
These data come from a market analysis focused on Japanese food product imports from Italy in 2004. The overall increase of 4% is a pleasant counter-trend for Italian producers, that are experiencing general difficulties on international markets.
"The basic food of the Mediterranean Diet, such as pasta, olive oil, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese", said Coldiretti, "are the main Japanese agricultural imports from Italy, the total of which reached €477 million in 2004."
"In particular", explained Coldiretti, "pasta takes the lead, with almost €66 million, followed by olive oil with €59 million, tomatoes with €42 millions and the Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses with €15 million. The good performance of Italian food products on rich markets such as Japan, shows that the Italian producers can win the challenge presented by emerging producing countries such as China, but they need to invest in, and promote, the traditional resources available," concluded Coldiretti.
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