Food Ingredients South America (FISA)

We are on to something here!   For year two USHBC has exhibited at the Food Ingredients South America exposition in Sao Paulo, Brazil.    We met food companies big and small - even those from blueberry-producing companies who are looking for USA blueberries!   The key:  Ingredient solutions.   That is -- blueberry products that have been converted into formats that are ready to use in food products.  This includes dried blueberries, juices, puree and concentrates.    Of course companies are also looking for frozen blueberries which is the specialty of North American producers!
>The region is juice crazy and blueberry is a most desirable flavor
>Dried blueberries are desired in snacking.
>Jam, jelly, preserve and bakery filling manufacturers look for steady supplies of frozen blueberries with soft skins and lots of juice.
>Blueberry powders and flakes are in demand from the many companies in the region who make supplements for body builders, beauty regimes and other uses.  

We are Real Blueberries.

We offer Real Blueberries and Real Blueberry Ingredient Solutions!

China Bakery Contest in Full Swing!

The world is flat!  USHBC is conducting a bakery contest all over China using social media!   After just one day of the one-month contest -- we are receiving some amazing recipes!
They use frozen, dried and others that can be sourced online anywhere in the country of 1.3 billion population and land mass about the same size as USA!
Will keep you posted!

Blueberry Roadshow - Kaohsiung (South Taiwan)

Taiwan is a long time market and friend of US Highbush Blueberries.  It was our first market outside of Japan and always strong and loyal to the fresh and processed blueberries!  Now we are spreading the word in the South part of the Island!

Taiwan, (Technically called the Republic of China)  is an island about the size of Northern California.  Population is around 20 million and still one of the strongest economies -- 22nd in the world! Note on the second map that it also includes a number of small islands including some in sight of mainland China.

Taipei is the main city or the "New York" of Taiwan.  The Southern City of Kaohsiung would be the Chicago with 2.8 million population -- the major port of Taiwan and a booming economy and business spirit!  

This month September 6, 2017 -- USHBC participates in a USDA Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) Bakery Seminar Roadshow.   Two celebrity chefs will demonstrate blueberries in bakery items at a series of seminars at the Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism.  Already 80 bakery chefs have signed up.   A media tasting will be held at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) office in Kaohsiung!

China Seminars and Road Show

USHBC is in the field and on the road in China with a series of seminars for the food industry in three regions of China:

Schedule:  Shenzhen - September 12, 2017  Chengdu - September 15, 2017  Shenyang - September 18, 2017

Attendees: Food Industry, restaurants, hotels, importers, distributors, nutrition influencers.

Global Based Initiative: Funding from the USDA-FAS and run n conjunction with the Cranberry Marketing Committee, National Pecan Board.

• Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.  This is the "small" border city next to Hong Kong which became a major business hub after Hong Kong sovereignty was returned to  the People's Republic of China in 1997.  (The population has boomed to 12 million population).   This is the area which has drawn a huge number of foreign investments and overseas Chinese companies.   Of particular interest -- this is also the area where much of the dried fruit and snacking industry is located which is a major target for USHBC-FoodTech concerning dried blueberries.
• Chengdu, Sichuan Province.  This is the business center of Western China which is one of the fastest growing business regions of the country.   (14.4 million population) Chengdu is known as a place where China and the Silk Road meet and dried fruits and nuts are part of their cuisine.   Our emphasis will be in frozen blueberries for bakeries and dried for the snacking trade.
• Shenyang, Liaoning Province.  This is the business center of north China and part of the area sometimes known as Manchuria.  (Population: 8.11 million).  Shenyang is an industrial center and also includes a food industries including baking, dairy and confectionery.  The region is home to a substantial number of Korean and Japanese companies as well as successful Chinese enterprises.   Frozen and dried are the emphasis.

School Nutrition Association (SNA) 2017 Developments!

Check out this recon from the School Nutrition Association  (SNA) meeting recently held in Denver, Colorado. 

• Step 1 was working with the approved school foodservice processors who we interact with at the American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA).  There they learn from USDA which commodities are in the USDA Foods program for the year.  
• Step 2. The processors work with the big school districts who receive the USDA foods by the truckload(s).   They look at flour, eggs, and specialty ingredients like blueberries!  Products are developed with often with assistance from USHBC-FoodTech.  That includes muffins, bars, and cups.  
• Step 3.  The commodity processor comes to the School Nutrition Association to present the new lines available.

It is a win-win situation.  Schools receive quality foods using the USDA ingredients -- which means low cost of the item.  The processor makes the product and sells minus the cost of the USDA-Foods ingredients.    When we first started working on commodity processing for schools, there were few if any products using blueberries in the system.  Processors and schools were unaware.

Now, check out this video!

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.