Be here before the sale. Be here after the sale.
Those were among two of the clear messages that the U.S. dairy delegation heard during the U.S. Dairy Business Conference in Southeast Asia on April 16 and 17 in Singapore. By watching the video at the top of this Intel, you can learn more perspectives gleaned by members of the U.S. dairy producer delegation, which included Kima Simonson of eastern Washington and Harold Shaulis of western Pennsylvania.
Southeast Asia is already a vital customer with the U.S., as evidenced by its second-place standing among all U.S. customers, purchasing $1.32 billion in dairy products and ingredients last year. To put that in perspective, that is second only to long-standing, first-place importer Mexico, which had $1.64 billion in purchases last year, and third to China with its $697 million. To say the least, Southeast Asia is employing many U.S. dairy cows and dairy farm families.
While we already have a strong relationship with our Southeast Asia friends, by doing some additional customer service and producing tailor-made products dairy producers, cooperatives and processors can further strengthen that bond.
Next week, we will catch up with California's Renae De Jager and Idaho's John Brubaker who are also representing U.S. dairy producers on the fact-finding, relationship-building trip.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2015
April 20, 2015
