Chennai: US government and American companies would like to see that the potential for high-quality imported US foods were made available to the Indian consumer in a big way, US Consul General in Chennai Richard Haynes said on October 18.

"The US government and American companies would like to realise the market potential for American foods and are investing considerable energy to make that happen," he said while launching the American Food Festival at "Nilgiris", a leading food retail chain in South India.

He said that India enjoyed an $ 810 million trade surplus with the US in agricultural products in 2002, adding that over the last six years US agricultural exports to India have increased by 147 per cent to $ 280 million in 2002.

"However given India's population and the growing middle class, this figure remains quite small," he said, adding that if India increased access to its market for US agricultural goods, it would provide all segments of Indian society greater consumer choice and resultant lower prices.

The festival is being organised for a period ending November 30th in all 28 outlets of Nilgiris in the South in association with the Foreign Agricultural Services wing of the US Embassy and Southern United States Trade Association.

Titled as "A Celebration of Good Taste", the festival showcases a wide range of products from US including prunes, almonds, dry peas, soups, syrups, sauces, juices and fresh fruits.

PTI