USADPLC at Food Ingredients Asia 2023

The USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council (USADPLC) recently participated in Food Ingredients Asia 2023, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand from September 20-22, 2023. This event served as an excellent platform for us to exhibit the versatility and benefits of U.S. pulses and pulse ingredients while fostering connections with valuable importers, manufacturers, and buyers.

Food Ingredients Asia, known as the largest Food & Beverage Ingredients event in ASEAN, was held alongside Vitafoods Asia and attracted over 600 international exhibitors from the nutraceutical, food, and beverage industry. It also welcomed more than 21,000 visitors from 40 different countries, all in search of innovative and high-quality ingredients, dietary supplements, and services. The event featured various highlights, including the Start-up innovative F&B products competition, Innovation Zone and Innovation Tours, Sustainability Square, and the Future Food Workshop.

A Tasty Collaboration with Chef Pae Nattha Podok

We were delighted to collaborate with Chef Pae Nattha Podok once again, demonstrating how U.S. pulses can be transformed into mouthwatering, healthy dishes. Chef Pae, a renowned culinary expert and a professor at Dusit Culinary School, showcased her culinary skills, assisted by first and second-year culinary students seeking valuable work experience. This collaboration was more than just a culinary showcase; it provided an excellent opportunity to engage with the next generation of chefs and explore ways to raise awareness about U.S. pulses in culinary schools.

Chef Pae’s menu featured delightful dishes like Chickpea Cranberry Bites, Lentil Bolognese Bruschetta, and a Plant-based Victoria Sponge Cake with Raspberry Compote. Not only did we offer samples of these dishes at the show, but these recipes by Chef Pae were also captured through professional photography and recipe reels, which will be shared on various platforms, including social media, our website, and with our importers.

USA Pavilion Opening Ceremony & Engaging Booth Visitors

On the morning of September 20th, USADPLC representatives attended the Opening Ceremony of the USA Pavilion. Ms. Kelly Stange, Agricultural Counselor of USDA FAS Bangkok, extended a warm welcome to the guests. The U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Robert Godec, delivered the opening remarks and officially inaugurated the USA Pavilion, which this year hosted nearly 30 U.S. companies, including U.S. Cooperators.

Following the ceremony, the Agricultural Counselor and the U.S. Ambassador visited our booth, where they sampled dishes prepared by Chef Pae and engaged in discussions with Stella Barruela, the General Manager of Trans-Millennium Mercantile Corp, a U.S. pulses importer from the Philippines.

Our booth also attracted several familiar faces, including Pheerasak Orsuwan of JR F&B, Charuphan Lertchaikittpaisan of Inno Fo-ed, Stella Barruela of Trans-Millennium Mercantile Corp, Linh Dang Uyen of Trung Minh Thanh (TMT) Trading & Distribution, and Melvin C. S. Lee of Weng Yeang Hang (M) Sdn Bhd.

We also welcomed new visitors interested in our products and distributed copies of the USADPLC Suppliers’ Directory and our recipe booklet, “Plant-Based Dishes with U.S. Pulses,” to interested visitors. The majority of our booth visitors were food manufacturers seeking whole pulses and pulse ingredients for crafting plant-based foods and healthy beverages. Their product range was diverse, including infant formula, non-soy tofu, sports supplements, ice cream, bakery items, plant-based tuna, and extruded snacks. This showcased the adaptability of U.S. pulses across various food and drink applications.

In summary, our participation at Food Ingredients Asia 2023 was a success, allowing us to form valuable connections, showcase culinary creativity, and underscore the potential of U.S. pulses. This year’s event enabled us to gather 78 trade leads and establish 6 significant contacts, reinforcing our commitment to the growth and innovation of the pulse industry. We eagerly look forward to future opportunities to promote U.S. pulses and pulse ingredients on a global scale, continuing to enrich and expand the horizons of our industry.