Agricultural News
OK Wheat Commission Hosts Chilean Trade Team - Ron Hays Talks to Tour Leader Casey Chumrau
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:31:19 CDT
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission hosted a trade delegation from Chile this week, touring a total of four millers and wheat buyers from the South American nation around several Oklahoma grain companies, speaking with producers and industry leaders along the way. The people in this group represent some of the largest milling companies in Chile, and make up approximately 65% of the total import business into that country. During their visit, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays sat down with Casey Chumrau of the US Wheat Associates Santiago, Chile office, who is accompanying the group on this tour. To listen to their full conversation, you can click or tap the LISTEN BAR located at the bottom of this story.
Chumrau began her career with US Wheat six years ago in the Washington, DC office. In 2015, she moved to Santiago to serve as marketing manager for South America, covering six countries there, including Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Columbia. When it comes to Chile, though, Chumrau says their buying needs are tremendous.
"They are an enormous bread consumer," she said. "They are the third largest bread consumer per capita in the world."
While the country is only home to about 17 million people, they still consume on average 95 kilos of bread per person. According to Chumrau, most of Chile's flour purchases are used to make bread, but she says they have robust pasta production as well. Additionally, the cracker and cookie segment is picking up pace as well.
"Principally, they are an all-purpose bread flour wheat consumer," she said. "So, that would be a HRW from the United States, but they also, of course, do blend. They're a very sophisticated, very mature market."
The US Wheat Associates hosts trade group tours each year, rotating from country to country in each region, each year. Chumrau says this practice is vital to maintaining the US wheat industry's relationship with foreign buyers.
"Not only is it educating them on our system," Chumrau remarked, "it gives them confidence in our system - they see along the way how standardized it is. But, I think it also gives them a bit of extra sentimental value where they can connect with the farmer and our industry, so hopefully they have sort of a good, warm feeling when they go to buy their wheat."
Learn more about Chile and its wheat consumption habits, by listening to Hays and Chumrau speak more in-depth about this week's visit from Chile's trade delegation - click or tap the LISTEN BAR below.
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