As part its mission of Developing Markets, Enabling Trade and Improving Lives, the U.S. Grains Council continuously seeks market opportunities for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley and their co-products around the world. The snack foods industry in Central America is a growing and vital market segment. Due to relations made at the USGC 2009 International Marketing Conference, several teams made of Central American snack food industry representatives have traveled throughout the United States for training sessions and market insights on U.S. corn, barley and sorghum production.

This week, snack food industry leaders from Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala traveled to Texas to attend a processing course at Texas A&M University. This program highlighted recent advances in corn and sorghum snack food processing techniques. It also allowed the Council to promote increased usage of U.S. corn and sorghum in Central American snack food production.

USGC Regional Consultant Alejandro Gonzalez, who escorted the team, said, “This team has expressed the advantage gained from the marketing programs conducted by the Council. Developing closer relations with this industry will help to expand the market segment for specialty grains such as hard endosperm corn in this market.�