U.S. Dairy Farmer Leaders Explore Flagship Collaboration Facility in Southeast Asia
CONTACTS:
Mark O'Keefe, USDEC |
- U.S. Dairy Ingredient Product Showcase: The boundless world of Southeast Asia-friendly innovation possibilities with U.S. dairy was on full display at the U.S. CDE’s demonstration kitchen for farmers to see and sample. Farmers were impressed with the wide and inventive array of delicious and nutritious prototypes made with U.S. dairy ingredients and cheeses.
- Innovation in Action Training Session: Farmers participated in the customer education and food and beverage product innovation journey at the U.S. CDE, including taking part in a hands-on demonstration to prepare U.S. dairy protein snacks and beverages. Farmers also learned how to measure product taste, texture and other attributes in the sensory evaluation lab while learning about the role of consumer insights in evaluating best-prospect opportunities.
- Customer Engagement: The farmer delegation held meetings with U.S. dairy ingredient customers from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia at the U.S. CDE, who shared how USDEC assisted in their product innovation successes.
Delegation members included these farmers from across the United States who serve as board chairs for USDEC and other dairy leadership organizations: Kate Fogler, Maine; Larry Hancock, Texas; Skip Hardie, New York; Marilyn Hershey, Pennsylvania; Charles Krause, Minnesota; Becky Nyman, California; Alex Peterson, Missouri. The farmers were joined by the CEO of United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Dwyer Williams; Wisconsin-based Managing Editor of Hoard’s Dairyman Corey Geiger and executives of USDEC: President and CEO Krysta Harden and COO Martha Scott Poindexter.
U.S. dairy export value to Southeast Asia rose 22% to a record US$1.68 billion in 2022. In volume terms, the region is the No. 2 U.S. market for nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder and lactose, the No. 4 market for high-value, high-protein whey protein concentrate and a top 10 market for cheese.
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About the U.S. Dairy Export Council: The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and overseas in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record. www.usdec.org.
About the U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence (U.S. CDE): Established in Singapore in 2020 by USDEC Singapore, Ltd., the U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence (U.S. CDE) is a first-of-its-kind learning destination, ideation hub and collaboration space for U.S. dairy customers, health professionals and other U.S. dairy partners in Southeast Asia. The 500 sqm facility located in Singapore's Robertson Quay, contains a demonstration kitchen, sensory evaluation lab, seminar and meeting rooms, and other features elevating USDEC's in-region resources to deliver Southeast Asia-friendly nutrition, marketing, and innovation solutions. The U.S. CDE represents the U.S. dairy industry's long-term commitment to Southeast Asia and was established by U.S. dairy farmers and processors with the ambition to make it a gateway connecting U.S. suppliers and Southeast Asian customers. Visitors to the U.S. CDE can explore and experience the essence of U.S. Dairy, gaining locally tailored ideation and innovation sparks for U.S. dairy applications, actionable consumer insights, and business-relevant updates on market trends, trade dynamics, nutrition research, environmental sustainability initiatives and more.