India Processed Blueberry Market Continues to Grow

When USA first approached India, we anticipated a market for fresh blueberries.    After USHBC primed the market with the USDA-FAS Quality Samples Program (QSP) we began to see continual growth of processed blueberry use in food products.

Indian Food Industry:
>$250 billion industry
>14% of Indian GDP

New Product Use:

Interesting Products:

Sunyong Lee Attends Shoei Expo

What makes overseas promotions work?  Importers and distributors of course.  

In Japan, USHBC works in teamwork with a number of frozen, dried and fresh importers.  Just like back in the USA -- these important "Channel partners" visit the factories, company offices, and continually develop good customer relations.

• 150 exhibitors
• 5,000 visitors

This month, Sunyong Lee -- our Blueberry FoodTech Ambassador in Korea visited Japan to attend the 70th Anniversary Celebration of Shoei Foods.   This company is one of the major importers of dried and frozen blueberries.   USHBC is thankful to Shoei Foods for the invite and all that they do so help build the market for blueberries in Japan!

Real Blueberries in Food Technology Weekly Newsletter

Members of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) receive a weekly newsletter with information on food industry news and trends.
Look what they see when they open the newsletter!

A salute to the Nut Raj!

Gunjan Jain displays his dried blueberry packs at the Gulfoods Exposition 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.   His products are sold throughout India and the entire region including the Middle East.

Gunjan Jain, (the Nut Raj) from India is an innovator in dried fruit and nut production, sales and marketing.  Two decades ago the action was in the dark always of the dried fruit markets or bazaars.  Gunjan is a fourth generation walnut grower and processor in the Jammu Kashmir state in the North of India.  He was encouraged by his grandfather to come to America -- as he did years ago to study dried fruit and nut marketing.  I was impressed when he called me out of the blue and then after three hours of public transit -- arrived at my office!   Gunjan's vision was to take the product to the consumer.  He developed delivery systems for ordering product via phone and e mail -- way before there was an internet.  Online sales followed.  He began servicing the newly developed grocery trade all over India.  (Grocery stores were not common 20 years ago).  He studied the health benefits of dried fruits and nuts and then began to use this valuable information on the pack and in advertising and media.  He also began marketing dried fruits and nuts to food processors, for baking, confectionery and snacks.   Foodservice and Ayurveda have followed.  

Gunjan was one of the first -- if not the first-- company in India to import dried blueberries from the USA!

Now -- Look at the latest development.   The Nut Lounge. A great place to sample dried blueberries too!

Blueberry Kitchen Vietnam

Welcome to Blueberry Kitchen Vietnam! 

Here is your host, Hana in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hana in Vietnam has initiated a You-Tube channel dedicated to sharing blueberry recipes!   Here is a starter with the production of a blueberry cake which she learned from her mother who ran a small cake shop in her small village.   Although Vietnamese have a rice based diet -- they also love baked goods and a strong cup of Vietnamese coffee!   After more than six decades of French rule after the 1880s -- they developed a passion for superb cakes and breads.

Enjoy:  Stay tuned for the video link.

Fresh Fruit Handling Seminar - China

Quindao - Xi'an Fresh Fruit Seminars

Although fresh blueberries from the USA are restricted for entry to China -- USHBC conducts activities to educate, engage and encourage blueberry consumption overall.   This month, we are participating with the USDA-FAS office in Beijing on educational seminars on produce handling in Quindao (Shandong Province) and Xi'an (Shaanxi) Province.

When you visit a grocery store of fruit market in China, you will notice wide differences in blueberry display and handling.  Typically, you will find a vast fresh product area and a small refrigerated area.  blueberries are often stacked from the floor in room temperature.   

Seminars will show practical information on how to protect your blueberry investment and also to get the freshest product for positive consumer experience.

Quindao Seminar

Fresh Fruit Handling Educational Workshop on November 29, 2017 0900-1400

美国大使馆农业贸易处果蔬培训

Ocean Ball Room, Intercontinental hotel in Qingdao

地点:青岛洲际酒店三层海洋厅I

时间：十一月二十九日

Xi'an Seminar

Fresh Fruit Handling Educational Workshop on December 1, 2017  0900-1400

美国大使馆农业贸易处果蔬培训

B1, Pearl Amber Crowne Meeting Room, Crowne Plaza Xi’an

地点: 西安皇冠假日酒店负一层珍珠琥珀厅

时间：十二月一日

Vietnam American Thanksgiving Foodservice Promotion

Happy Thanksgiving from Vietnam!

The New World Hotel Saigon USA promotion is in full swing!   Our "Blueberry Hana" has been scootering around Ho Chi Minh City for weeks to prepare and the event looks to be a big success.   Blueberries in desserts are a hit as well as entrees.   Although this is a 5-Star Hotel --it is a gathering place for locals looking for the latest dining trends.  

Dried and frozen blueberries are the emphasis.   Importers and distributors took notice and are urged to contact Vietnamese importers and suppliers of USA blueberries.   Customers are also craving fresh blueberries!

Action Photos:

Opening Ceremony:  Our Hana is second from the left

Salute to the USA with American Blueberries and Vietnam produced Strawberries

Vietnamese love sweets!

Ice cream station with dried blueberries for topping

The Ribbon Cutting

Thanks to the USDA Office of Agricultural Affairs - Ho Chi Minh City for organizing this and other events.  USHBC now is an active Cooperator in the Vietnam market and Blueberry Hana is on the move!