THE Minister of State at the Department of Food, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, is leading a group of Irish food companies on a one week promotional tour of the United States. The trip, organised by An Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, and timed to coincide with St Patrick's Day, is aimed at boosting Ireland's £120 million food and drink export business to the US. The group, which arrived in the US yesterday, will visit Los Angeles, San Jose, New York and Boston.

Alcoholic drinks account for three quarters of Ireland's food and drink exports to the US, but dairy based food ingredients products are becoming more important, according to An Bord Bia.