Along with our partners in the Philippines, US Wheat Associates is very excited about preparations for World Bread Day 2018 on Oct. 16. This is a day to celebrate the wholesome, nutritious goodness of the high-quality wheat food products produced in this country. It is a treasured part of the long-term partnership between American wheat farmers and Philippine bakers and flour millers.
The Filipino diet, derived from Spain and later influenced by American tastes, puts bread and other baked goods in an important place, accounting for more than half of foods that contain wheat flour in the Philippines. Wheat does not grow well in a hot, tropical climate, however, and must be imported. That is why wheat farmers from the United States established an office here in the Philippines almost 60 years ago.
The work of USW is funded by contributions from US wheat farmers and cost-share grants from the US Department of Agriculture. USW does not buy, sell nor process wheat; we do help make it easier for everyone else who does. USW proudly represents the hard-working farm families that produce enough wheat every year to fill American tables, while still supplying a substantial share of world wheat trade.
Over the years, bakers and their respective baking associations have worked with USW to advance technical skills within the industry, supporting Filipino bakers’ ability to produce the best products in the world, providing a safe, healthy, enjoyable eating experience. USW has also worked closely with the milling industry to import the highest quality wheat and process it into the highest quality flour at the lowest possible price. These efforts have contributed to the Philippines being one of the most sophisticated wheat foods industries in the world today.
Producing appealing loaf bread and other products like hamburger buns requires wheat flour with very specific qualities. Filipino bakers’ have developed a preference for the superior performance of flour milled locally from hard red spring wheat grown in the Northern Plains of the United States. The unique characteristics of this wheat help improve loaf volume, mixing tolerance and stability needed to make Pinoy Tasty and Spanish bread such as pandesal and monay.
Wheat buyers, flour millers, and wheat food processors can be most efficient and effective when they are informed about wheat quality and export prices. USW continues to provide that service —an effort that also includes risk management and technical education. With this support, buyers and users can specify the qualities they need for almost every end-use product from among the six classes grown across the United States. This combination of reliability and quality provides excellent value to US wheat customers.
To provide the best, most wholesome food, millers and bakers constantly try to improve their products. Technical support from USW helps them develop better-baked goods produced in more efficient ways. USW helps Filipino milling and baking industries expand product lines and maintain elevated quality and hygiene levels. USW often brings international consultants to the Philippines to work with local industry on similar goals. USW also works with the baking industry to improve business management practices to assure vitality in the industry.
Expanding consumer awareness and appreciation for wheat foods, including nutritional information through seminars, consumer demonstrations, trade shows, and promotional campaign support is also part of the partnership with USW. Together, we actively support World Bread Day celebrations in the Philippines.
This constant pursuit to improve value to the consumer has contributed to a significant increase in wheat-based foods consumption. Average Filipinos today eat 26% more wheat-based foods than they did just five years ago. Much of this increase can be attributed to rising middle-class disposable income, changing lifestyles and diets, as well as several years of low prices.
The partnership also allows us to meet challenges when they inevitably come. As we embark upon World Bread Day 2018, the global supply of milling wheat is starting to decline because of poor weather conditions in several major wheat exporting countries. As a result, prices are increasing. This comes at an unfavorable time for the Philippine consumer, who is currently experiencing the highest inflation in several years on rising rice and energy prices, among other consumer goods.
USW will continue to invest in the Philippine milling and baking industries, helping them increase efficiencies in their processes through a period of rising prices for their key raw materials while maintaining the high standards of quality their customers expect. USW is hopeful that consumers will continue to see value in the convenient, nutritious and delicious biscuits, cakes, bread, pasta, noodles and many other products offered by the Philippine wheat foods industry, even when the industry needs to raise their selling prices to account for rising raw material costs. Maintaining a healthy industry is in everyone’s best interest, to assure the continued availability of high-quality food into the future.
Joe Sowers is the regional vice president for the Philippines and South Korea at US Wheat Associates.