Twenty North Dakota companies and organizations took part in NDTO-led trade missions to Philippines, Singapore and China in February and March 2014. The following are recaps of these initiatives:
China Healthy Foods Event
Fourteen North Dakota companies and organizations returned home last week from Qingdao, Shandong, China, where they successfully showcased the state’s high-quality agricultural commodities and food products to more than 120 Chinese food manufacturers and processors at the second annual North Dakota ‘Better for You Food Ingredients’ conference and exhibition.
The 2014 China – North Dakota ‘Better for You Food Ingredients’ event was organized by the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO) with support from the North Dakota Department of Commerce and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The event included a conference and exhibition designed to demonstrate uses for North Dakota’s high-quality commodities in Chinese food products. Crop specialists from Northern Crops Institute (NCI) and other U.S. universities gave presentations to Chinese buyers, R&D specialists and food manufacturers while chefs prepare Chinese dishes made with North Dakota ingredients including: flax, sunflowers, barley, wheat, flour, pasta, soybeans, peas, lentils and dry edible beans.
Companies and organizations participating in the trade mission include:
- Great Northern Ag, Plaza, ND
- Healthy Oilseeds, Carrington, ND
- JB Global, Burnsville, MN
- North Dakota Mill, Grand Forks, ND
- Northern Crops Institute
- North Dakota Department of Agriculture
- North Dakota Department of Commerce
- North Dakota State University
- North Dakota Trade Office
- Richland Organics, Inc., Wahpeton, ND
- Soyko, Inc., Gary, MN
- Specialty Commodities, Inc., Fargo, ND
- Sun Opta, Moorhead, MN
- United Pulse Trading, Bismarck, ND
Through trade missions and other exchange efforts, North Dakota continues to develop lasting business and cultural ties that benefit the state as well as China. The event in Qingdao was the North Dakota’s first official event in its Sister State of Shandong Province. North Dakota Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley and Shandong Provincial Vice Gov. Xia Geng signed the sister-state agreement on Feb. 21, 2014, to help strengthen the economic and social ties in the areas of agriculture, aviation, education, energy and technology between North Dakota and Shandong.
Organizations that assisted in the development and support of this event include the Northern Pulse Growers Association, Northern Food Grade Soybean Association, the Northarvest Bean Growers Association, and the USDA Foreign Ag Service (FAS).
Trade Mission to Philippines and Singapore
The NDTO led a trade mission to Philippines and Singapore, February 19-25, which was attended by six North Dakota food producers and processors.
The objective of these events was to develop commercial and agricultural business and organizational relationships. Delegates met with representatives from Philippines and Singapore businesses in the IP food grade soybeans, peas & lentils, sunflowers, wheat & wheat flour and retail/finished goods industries.
According to post-mission surveys, all participants expressed confidence that sales would result from the mission, with average export sales from $150,000 to $750,000, per company, in the next two years.
Companies that participated in this trade mission included:
- Brushvale Seed, Breckenridge, MN
- JM Grain, Garrison, ND
- North Dakota Mill, Grand Forks, ND
- SB&B Foods, Casselton, ND
- Soyko, Gary, MN
- SunOpta, Moorhead, MN
For more information on the China and Philippines/Singapore initiatives, contact Jiwon Kim at Jiwon@ndto.com