Developing End Wheat Products for Aging Asian Countries

US wheat Associates Director of Communications, Ralph Loose says that consumer tastes and needs in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are changing due to aging populations.

“So they're very interested in new developments in wheat foods, you know, what can we produce? And that's where US wheat also helps out in those markets. You know, sharing new ideas, new breads, noodles, no huge noodle markets. And so they are really curious about, you know, their customers, how are they going to use US wheat to produce, you know, in products, we call them, bake goods, wheat foods, how are they going to develop these new products for their aging societies and their consumers.”

Loose says that consumer needs are shifting quickly, particularly in Taiwan and Japan, and US flour Millers are trying to determine where to put resources to develop end products for these consumers. Millers and representatives of the North Asian countries will be meeting more often to work on solutions and ideas. One other note he points out, is that these three countries once again we're talking about Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan make up about 20% of all US wheat export purchases.