It may come as a surprise to some farmers, but at any given hour of the day there is probably someone, somewhere, talking about the quality, reliability and value of U.S. wheat. All of this is thanks to the partnership between the Texas Wheat Producers Board, other state wheat organizations and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), the overseas marketing arm of the wheat industry. USW currently operates 17 foreign offices and works with customers in more than 100 countries. To prove the point, we’ve put together highlights from activities held this spring around the world to promote U.S. wheat in an ever more complex world grain market.
TAKING BAKING ON THE ROAD IN THE PHILIPPINES
USW participated in the launch of “Flourish Pilipinas – Bake it fun in the Philippines” as part of a successful, long-term initiative to support local milling and baking organizations in its efforts to promote wheat foods consumption. This yearlong campaign, co-sponsored by the Philippine Department of Tourism and U.S. wheat customer URC Flour Mill, will include baking and recipe competitions, a four-city baking academy roadshow and a World Bread Day fair.
FROZEN DOUGH COURSE BRINGS TOGETHER CHINESE MILLERS AND BAKERS
Eleven bakers and research and development managers from China participated in an eight-day Frozen Dough Workshop at the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) in Portland, OR. The team members represented three flour mills and major bakery chains in the Yangtze River Delta Region and coastal Fujian Province. Guo Ji Guang, the chairman of Fujian Province’s Fumao Bakery Enterprises, said the course was a great opportunity for bakers and millers to study baking technology together.
ANNUAL U.S. WHEAT ANALYSIS UNDERWAY
Thirty-three USW partners are receiving flour samples this month as part of USW’s Overseas Varietal Analysis (OVA) program. Partners will analyze and compare samples to their current commercial flours based on flour quality and end product performance. Bakery Consultant Roy Chung (USW/ Singapore) organized an annual OVA Technical Seminar in March to bring cooperators from seven mills in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia together to run quality tests on 30 varieties from four classes of wheat. Cooperators in Europe, Asia, Latin and Central America, Africa and the Middle East will begin evaluating flour samples of HRW, SRW, HRS, SW and durum wheat.
MASTERING WHOLE WHEAT PRODUCTS
Two master bakers and two flour millers from Korea participated in a Whole Wheat Research Baking Short Course in February at the WMC. The team evaluated whole wheat bakery products – including pan breads, pita breads
and crackers – using blends of HRS, HRW and SW wheat. Participants also visited a local bakery to learn about artisan baking for baguettes, French rolls and sourdough breads.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP IN TAIWAN
The Taiwan Provincial Bakers Associations (TPBA) is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Established in 1948, the TPBA includes 14 local bakers associations from 14 counties in Taiwan. USW has worked with TPBA for 30 years to organize baking seminars and promote healthy bakery products. To join in the celebration, USW is providing TPBA with articles on joint activities for a commemorative magazine TPBA is publishing for its anniversary.
U.S. WHEAT MEETING GHANA’S NEEDS
USW Assistant Regional Director Gerald Theus (USW/Cape Town) met with flour milling groups in Accra, Ghana, to discuss wheat imports. Ghana has imported 47,000 MT of HRW so far in 2012/13, up 26 percent from the same period last year. In 2011/12, Ghana imported a total of 493,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat, including 73,000 MT from the United States. Mills in Ghana are looking for U.S. wheat to blend with competitor wheat to produce viable French-type baguette flour. Instant noodles, a highly successful trend in Nigeria, are also expected to expand into Ghana, an ideal use for HRW.
BRAZILIANS VISIT U.S. WHEAT FARM
USW Santiago staff helped organize a trip for three Bunge Brazil executives to visit Manhattan, KS, in early April, including Manager of Wheat Origination Edson Csipai. Bunge is the largest milling company in Brazil, importing 1.5 MMT of wheat annually. Stops included the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, the International Grains Program, USDA’s Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, AIB International and a wheat farm near Manhattan.
Leave a Reply