The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) last month continued its promotional efforts for U.S. food barley exports to Taiwan by hosting a 2015 Healthy Barley Food Creative Contest. The event was organized in cooperation with the China Grain Products Research and Development Institute (CGPRDI), Taiwan Barley Products Industry Association (TBPIA) and a group of commercial companies.
U.S. research has demonstrated that U.S. beta-glucan barley has properties that may lower cholesterol, thus making it a heart-healthy grain. This news and recent issuance of a health certification from Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) for one company’s use of high beta-glucan U.S. barley has increased Taiwanese consumer interest in purchasing it for food applications.
“Due to an aging population and food safety concerns, the Taiwanese public is interested in healthy food ingredients and healthy food products,� said USGC Director in Taiwan Clover Chang. “Even with this interest surrounding healthy living, we have to keep promoting U.S. food barley as part of a healthy lifestyle to raise awareness with consumers.�
To keep this momentum going, the Council promotes the grain at food shows and through promotion activities like this contest.
A total of 40 groups participated in this contest, which had four categories that included barley healthy bread, barley chiffon decorated cake and barley creative pastry. Following the contest, which ended July 25, CGPRDI began working to create a special bulletin of this contest’s winners and use it to promote the utilization of U.S. food barley in Taiwan.
“This contest created new interest from Taiwanese food companies and bakery shops in developing barley food products and sharing their innovative recipes with the general public,� Chang said.
“It also sparked the general public’s attention in eating these food products and the media’s interest in reporting about barley and barley foods as part of a healthy lifestyle.�
The Council estimates that Taiwan has the potential to use 150,000 to 250,000 metric tons (6.9 to 11.5 million bushels) of food barley annually. Taiwan imported 13,400 tons (615,450 bushels) of U.S. barley in 2014, showing significant additional potential for barley exports to the country.