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The Spanish region of Andalusia has announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Culinary Institute of America to encourage the use of traditional Andalusian foods, including fruits and vegetables, by leading American chefs.

The agreement, which it is hoped will help promote the awareness and consumption of many of Andalusia’s key export products, was signed at the recent Fancy Food speciality food and drink trade fair, held from 10-12 July in Washington DC.

According to the regional government of Andalusia, the collaboration will see the Institute, where some of the biggest names in the US culinary world are trained, promote the use of “star products from the Andalusian kitchen” to its students.

The agreement formed part of a series of activities undertaken by the Spanish region at the trade fair, during which Andalusia’s minister of agriculture, Clara Aguilera, met with Spanish celebrity chefs based in the US to discuss ways of featuring the region’s products.

Andalusia exports an estimated €191m worth of fruits and vegetables to the US every year, making the country the Spanish region’s single largest market outside Europe.