Idaho Wheat Growers to Host Taiwan Flour Miller Team in Lewiston, Idaho Wheat Commission, June 9, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Contact: Tereasa Waterman (208) 334-2353
Idaho Wheat Commission

(BOISE, Idaho) Four wheat purchasing managers from leading flour mills in Taiwan will be in Idaho June 15-18, 2017, to learn more about the quality, value and reliability of Idaho’s 2017 wheat crop.

The team will visit Bill Flory Farms in Culdesac, Idaho June 16 from 9:00-10:30 AM; and Lewis and Clark Terminal at 11:30 AM.  For more information about the tours, contact Tereasa Waterman, (208) 334-2353 or [email protected].

The wheat purchasing team from Taiwan is the first of five wheat-buying teams making visits to Lewiston this summer.  The Port of Lewiston is a vital part of getting wheat grown by American farmers to their Asian customers.  Last year, nearly 10% of all of U.S. wheat exports moved through Lewiston and the Snake River dams.

Taiwan is on average the sixth largest market for U.S. wheat. In each of the past two marketing years, Taiwan’s flour millers purchased about 1.0 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. wheat, equal to 36.8 million bushels. Soft white (SW) imports, including Western White (a blend of SW and up to 20 percent club), help meet growing demand for cake, cookie and pastry flours. Significant hard red spring (HRS) imports reflect a need for strong gluten flour for breads, rolls and frozen dough products as well as for blending with hard red winter (HRW) to make traditional Chinese flour foods and noodles.

Team Members:

Mr. Hsin-Hong Kuo, Chairman of the Board, Hong Ming Flour Mill

Hong Ming Enterprise operates one of the leading top five flour mills in Taiwan. Located in Tainan, Taiwan, the mill produces flour for bread, cake, cookies/crackers and noodles. Mr. Kuo has ample experience in the milling industry and has visited the United States and Idaho with USW teams several times.

Mr. Charles Hung, General Manager, Chia Fha Flour Mill

Chia Fha Enterprise operates a flour mill, located in Taichung, Taiwan, producing high quality flour for making a wide variety of wheat products including bread, cake, noodles, etc.  Chia Fha Flour Mill, is also one of the leading top five flour mills in Taiwan. Mr. Hung is a second-generation general manager of Chia Fha Flour Mill and this is the first time he has participated in a USW trade team.

Mr. Po-Jen Chi, Assistant Manager, Quality Division, Lien Hwa Industrial Corporation

LHIC is the oldest and largest flour milling business in Taiwan. Its products include well-known brand names of general purpose and special application flour at its mill in Fukang, northern Taiwan. Mr. Chi is a senior manager with extensive experience in the milling industry.

Mr. Daniel Chi, Special Assistant and Account Officer, Planning Division, Top Food Flour Mill and Top Food Industry Corporation

Top Food Flour Mill and Top Food Industry Corporation is the second largest flour milling company. The company produces high protein flour, whole wheat flour, low protein flour and wheat bran products for making a wide variety of wheat products.

Country Background: The U.S. Wheat Industry Relationship with Taiwan

The Republic of China, known as Taiwan, is on average the sixth largest market for U.S. wheat. In each of the past two marketing years, Taiwan’s flour millers purchased about 1.0 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. wheat, equal to 36.8 million bushels. Significant hard red spring (HRS) imports reflect a need for strong gluten flour for breads, rolls and frozen dough products as well as for blending with hard red winter (HRW) to make traditional Chinese flour foods and noodles. Soft white (SW) imports, including Western White (a blend of SW and up to 20 percent club), help meet growing demand for cake, cookie and pastry flours.

With an office in Taipei, USW includes Taiwan in its North Asia region. USW works directly with end users and importers to help them strengthen commercial links with U.S. export companies through trade serving and technical assistance activities in the region and by facilitating visits to better understand the U.S. wheat export system.

The USW Taipei Office has an excellent working relationship with Taiwan Flour Mills Association (TFMA) and the Taiwan baking industry. That relationship is a foundation of trust that gives TFMA the confidence to consistently rely on U.S. wheat farmers to supply more than 80 percent of Taiwan’s total wheat imports each year.

Founded in 1958, TFMA imports wheat on behalf of all 20 currently operating Taiwanese flour mills and includes members from academia, industry, government and research institutes. USW, TFMA and CGPRDI, the China Grain Products Research & Development, have long collaborated to develop new wheat foods and help train bakers to introduce these products to local markets.

In March 2017, USW cooperated with Chia Nan University to conduct a 10-day Chinese wheat flour products training course, where participants learned how to make traditional Chinese style flour products, including steamed buns, steamed rolls, fried Chinese Churros, steamed meat cakes, steamed cakes, pan fried buns, Chinese Danishes and Chinese doughnuts. A similar course was held in December 2016.

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