The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) office in Japan has published its first-ever white sorghum recipe book to encourage Japanese consumers to use U.S. white sorghum in every day food dishes.
“The Council’s Japan office published its first white sorghum recipe book, and it is on sale today,� said Michiyo Hoshizawa, USGC program and administrative manager in Japan. “The recipes include everything from soup to salad, bread to side dishes and main dishes to sweets.�
Japan is an affluent, aging and highly health-conscious country with a large population of people seeking more and more specialized food products. Using U.S. sorghum in Japanese food products has the potential to help meet this growing demand.
“We want the Japanese consumer to have the opportunity to try sorghum,� said United Sorghum Checkoff Program Executive Director Florentino Lopez, who attended an event at which the Council rolled out the recipe book. “We believe sorghum fits well in a multitude of different foods and that by having the chance to experience sorghum, they will develop a preference for U.S. white sorghum.�
While Japan’s outstanding sales and accumulated exports of U.S. sorghum totaled only 27,500 metric tons (1 million bushels) as of Jan. 28 for the 2015/2016 marketing year – and only a portion of that is being used for food products – the Council believes this is a potential growth market food products made from U.S. sorghum.
“We will continue to promote food sorghum in Japan as a healthy ingredient that integrates well into a traditional Japanese diet,� Hoshizawa said.
Click here to view more photos of the reception at which this recipe book was introduced to the public and media.