USHBC Participates in Savor USA Home Baking Competition

Home baking has become a big deal throughout China.   This includes baking for family at home but also serious home bakers who start businesses at home to produce cakes and other goods for internet sales.  

Online baking competition:  September 1-30, 2017
Participants are invited to utilize the US ingredients including blueberries and present recipes to Dougou for evaluation and judging by a team of celebrity chefs.

Award Ceremony:  October 20, 2017
This will be a big deal with ATO office in Shanghai and the gifts are great.  We will also have special gifts and recognition for Real Blueberry products.

Dougou is a very popular recipe site in China.   Here is their main portal.

www.dougou.com

Here is the mobile ap online:  http://m.douguo.com/activity/cpzj/index/1262

Highbush blueberries are one of the main ingredients

Others include wheat, pecans, almonds...

Some of the rules

Chef on left is  Master Louie who visited California blueberry fields in June.   He knows his stuff!  We also visited dozens of trendy bakeries in San Francisco and Las Vegas!

Local super stars

Visiting celebrity chef judges.  Heinz is an old friend of blueberries from Hong Kong and Ryan works as consulting chef from the USA.

Here is some of the swag!

USHBC is a primary sponsor and will also provide dried blueberries as gifts and for baking.

One of the requirements is that we have online product available -- these two are online now and more to come.  If you have an outlet in China let us know!

US Wheat Associates is a main sponsor and provide dozens of ideas online. 

More information.  Stay tuned and we will present the winners and certainly some great products using frozen and dried high bush blueberries!  

Delhi Delights Foodservice Promotion Kicks off in India

Foodservice is a tremendous opportunity for blueberry use in India.  USHBC cooperates with the USDA-FAS Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Mumbai to develop recipes in trend setting restaurant chains.  

Blueberries Going to Goa!

USHBC takes the blueberry message to the state of Goa for an exhibit and meetings with trade.  The hard-working USDA organizer in Mumbai calls this the "Goa Roadshow."   Although this is one of the smaller population states in India, it is unique and quite important for trade and food innovation which goes back centuries.

.

• The Konkani coast was colonized by Portugal in 1510 until the 1960s.  Portuguese influence is everywhere -- especially in foods which have a western and spicy flair!
• Goa has the highest GDP and per capita income of any state in India.   
• Goa is a haven for European visitors and features a substantial tourist infrastructure with hotels, resorts and restaurant trade.  Goan food is world famous -- ever had Lamb Vindaloo? Feni is the local "moonshine" made from cashew fruit.
• European airlines fly directly into Goa without stops in Delhi.
• Trends tend to start in Goa!

Goa is an innovator in modern Indian cuisine and the Roadshow will test the waters with Indian chef Shoria Kapoor (Raj's son)  staffing the booth at the exposition.  A variety of bakery and pastry products will be presented.

Note that the event is co-sponsored by the Federation of Indian Food Importers.   

Talofa from American Samoa!

Welcome to America's Paradise South of the Equator.

Of course Blueberry Guy immediately found fresh blueberries in the store.  Very fresh were on the same flight in from Honolulu

Here is my favorite Korean market in Tafuna.   SK Mart has it all!

Good luck if you are looking for local produce!  Here is a wild turmeric juice which sells for $16 per liter.  It is touted as a relief for diabetes. Samoa has a terrible diabetes problem and a return to fruits and veggies and local items like breadfruit, turmeric juice and of course -- blueberries can help.

Check out the frozen blueberries.   

I forgot to mention you can pick all the coconuts you want just about anywhere!  

Time to say Talofa from Pago Pago!

Food Ingredients India

The excitement is building in India for the USHBC booth at the Food Ingredients India exposition which will be held November 9-11 in Mumbai.

Taiwan Super Chef Seminar - 2017

Bakeries and hotel chefs are a major target for frozen and dried blueberry market development in Taiwan.   Traditionally, chefs will use fillings which are great for pies -- but limiting in other uses where whole fruit is needed.   Education and technology transfer is the key.

Our Mandy Chen (Blueberry Mandy as they call her now in Taipei) worked with Katherine Lee of the USDA-FAS Agricultural Trade Office to present a seminar on highbush blueberries for 100 invited food industry professionals.   Chef Jia-Ming Yang, a Taiwan celebrity chef and friend of blueberries presented an array of bakery products designed to demonstrate optimal use and innovation with frozen and dried blueberries.

• Economical ways of using frozen blueberries in product development
• Integration of dried blueberries into sticky and firm doughs
• Optimal use of real blueberries in mufins

Here are some shots from the successful event.

Introduction from MC who is an editor of a Taiwanese food industry publication.

Attendees included importers, distributors, food manufacturers, bakery and restaurant executives.

Katherine Lee and USDA staff welcomed the attendees showed great support for highbush blueberries.

Here is "Blueberry Mandy" who worked weeks in advance and behind the scenes to make this event a big success.

Chef Yang is well known in Taiwan and a real master and innovator.   Here he shows how to utilize frozen blueberries to make yummy toppings and fillings for quality bakery goods.

Chef is one of these rare individuals who can cook and talk at the same time.  He was entertaining and really showed his skills and presented blueberries well.

Of course he had an excellent helper who has worked together with for years.  They were like a well-oiled machine!

Chefs made the recipes look easy and appealing.   

So here we go!!!

USHBC Works the Indian Foodservice Sector

India has been a pleasant surprise for USHBC market development activities.  

This September USHBC will partner with the USDA-FAS Trade Office, The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) and several current importers of frozen and dried blueberries in the Delhi Capital Region which some believe has a population exceeding 50 million.

This activity and several others in India this year are in cooperation with USDA and most importantly the FIFI organization which is a key player in working on issues of importance to food importers (and food exporters like US Blueberries)  This can includes duty reduction.  High visibility promotions like this help enlist Indian government support and show our involvement with local businesses.

We are off to a good start with more than $300,000 declared value of processed blueberries imported in 2016.  USHBC yearly investment in the market is $47,000 USD which incudes our local food tech rep Raj Kapoor and multiple trade show events and promotions such as the upcoming foodservice activity in Delhi.   We cooperate with organizations and USDA to stretch the dollar and increase reach.

With the growth of the Indian foodservice sector--especially in the western foodservice segment -- we see a logical path for frozen and dried blueberry market development.

Promotion Details:

• 17 stand-alone restaurant operations.   A focus on trendsetting, high visibility establishments.
• 3 five-star hotels (The type that upscale locals dine at)

Objective:  (From organizer FIFI)

Our primary objectives are to showcase the wide array of U.S products available in India and to expose and educate a broad audience including, trade and industry reps, Indian media, and consumers about U.S. products which are locally available and with greater potential in the Indian market.  The activity will include traditional and social media as a means to educate the target audience on how U.S. foods and beverages can be compatible with Indian tastes and are often complementary with local Indian products.  Moreover the activity will educate them about the availability, quality, and value of U.S. foods and beverages in the market.

Check out these great promotion partners who will be featuring US Blueberries from August 25 onward!

Multiple restaurants where Indian Hippsters gather

A lifestyle chain which includes coffee shops, frozen yogurt and western and meals and chat.

Welcome to Dramz a hideaway where Bollywood stars congregate.

Welcome to the Library where high tech upwardly mobile Dehli-ites meet and aspiring entrepreneurs lounge

Kyline is seen in a number of major Bollywood films.   This place draws the "beautiful people."

If you want service -- visit the Hotel Imperial and feel like a Maharaja.  

At Hotel Lila you will see diplomats as well as Indian VIPs.

Raddison Blu is a chain all over India and the Middle East.  The trendsetting foodservice operations blend Indian and western fare and are blueberry fans.   Lots of promotion potential with the Name: Raddison Blu