New Market with Potential: Colombia

Our USHBC strategic plan directs us to look for new markets for blueberries at home and abroad.  Let's take a look at Colombia.  Remember always with two o's!  Our food engineer in Brazil -Katia Miura-  covers Latin America and works with the Colombian food industry.  We see ongoing progress with our close neighbor in the south especially in the value-added ingredient market.

·        Population =  49 million (4^th largest in Latin America).

·        Rising middle class = currently around 65% of population and rising.

·        Big Mac Index = $3.31  (US = $4.40)

·        End of Civil War

·        Dynamic food industry open for business

·        Food culture and high percentage of income to food purchase

·        Open to US Origin

Statistics:

New Blueberry-Containing Products

Source: Mintel Global New Products Database as of May 2017

Interesting Developments

Snack with real blueberry flakes

Snacks

Innovation with blueberry flakes

Blueberry product promotion

Dried blueberries

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USHBC Exhibits at International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Exposition

The name IDDBA is a bit awkward -- but the Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association exposition held in Anaheim June 4-6, 2017was one of the best connections for highbush blueberries to the food processing business.  This three-day show drew attendees from throughout North America -- especially grocers, convenience store chains nd gourmet food operations.   What made this show important was the fellow exhibitors.  These included dairy, baking and snack companies of all sizes who were selling to the chains.  USHBC uses this gathering of food processors as a way to reach brand managers of companies who use real blueberries.  We meet the companies and discuss the real seal!

This was the debut of the USHBC Real Seal -- a big hit!  You will read more about this in future posts.

Team Blueberry & New Friend

Everyone loves real blueberries at IDDBA

>We met with more than 150 companies on the floor and discussed the Real Blueberries Seal
>At out booth we sampled real fresh blueberries and again and again were complemented -- as one of the few real foods on the floor.
A common comment from attendees: I have blueberries every morning to get my antioxidants!
Now we are following up with these companies and working to get the seal on the packs.
We also met a number of companies who have products which currently do not qualify.  These companies are now targets for technical assistance so we can help get the quantity of blueberries to optimal levels.

• 9,000 attendees
• 1900 booths!

Now the real work begins!  We are in contact with companies and working to land new Real Seal program participants.

Beauty Sells in Brazil

Our USHBC food engineer in Sao Paulo connects with food manufacturers across this vast country.  We present information of interest.  Brazilians are fitness and appearance society.  Beauty sells. Here is the latest newsletter titled: Beauty from Within.  This is the use of ingredients associated with skin care and beauty such as collagen, lutein.   Brazilians also associated forest fruits such as blueberries.

Copy refers to current blueberry products with beauty from within association that were identified in Brazil.

Brazil Jam Manufacturer - A Gold Standard

Three years ago we visited Queensberry, a large preserve manufacturer near Sao Paulo Brazil.  One of the most modern facilities in the world.  They have always had a blueberry jam -- but now take a look at the new developments!  There are 600 jam manufacturers in Brazil.  Although most are small the large ones are booming business with more than 100 percent growth in past five years according to Brazilian Association of Food Industries.   Inexpensive local sugar makes this an important product for domestic as well as export.   Blueberries are becoming a popular flavor and here is some proof!

Queensberry:

The original

100 percent fruit

Now blueberry smoothies

Taiwan Seminar for Food Industry

USHBC will participate in an upcoming food industry seminar in Taipei June 22, 2017.  The USDA-ATO sponsored event will include a presentation on blueberries, demonstration by a blueberry-friendly master chef and collaboration with local flower millers and a food technology publication.  We are expecting 100 plus food companies to attend.  This is a great collaboration between our own Blueberry-Mandy Chen and Katherine Lee of the USDA-FAS Agricultural Trade office in Taipei.   

Japan - Convenience Store Blueberry Packs

Last year we showed the small 125 gram (4.4 ounces)  frozen blueberry packs sold in convenience stores in Japan.  Now, here is the 77.5 gram (2.7 ounces)  I watched as office workers purchased the dried packs to snack on at the desk.   Blueberries are still associated with good eyesight and eyestrain relief.  Now it is interesting to see young lady office workers snapping up the dried blueberries which are more and more associated with beauty and skin care.

Dried US Highbush Blueberry Shipments to Japan Continue to Soar

Japan has always been a fresh and frozen market for blueberries.  Now take a look at the rise in dried highbush blueberries from the USA!

Source: US Customs. -  US Blueberries only.

Here is the deal:
>1,481,000 kg of dried blueberries exported from the USA to Japan in 2016.
>>This converts to 3.26 million lbs.
>>Multiply this by the 3.5 lbs needed to make one lb. of dried blueberries = 8.15 million lbs of blueberries utilized!

Demand determinants:

Beauty - Confectionery and Totally new products are leading the way in 2017!

>Beauty.   Grocery and convenience stores market dried blueberries in health and beauty sections along side slimming and products with health and beauty association.  (Beauty from Within)

Blueberries for skin care and beauty.

Asahi is one of the leading food and beverage companies in Japan and now have designed products with blueberries as a ingredient along with other beauty-identified ingredients.

>Confectionery.  On the food industry side, Japanese companies are integrating dried blueberries into confectionery (panned blueberries) ice creams and traditional Japanese confectionery (wagashi).

Dried blueberries are integrated into cheese cake bar called "mazuko."

>New Categories!

Take a walk in any park in Tokyo and you will understand why quality natural pet foods are the rage.  Pampered little-white dogs are everywhere.  Watch this category!