USDBC LOOKS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES ON COLOMBIA’S ATLANTIC COAST REGION 

Colombia has been a priority market for USDBC since the implementation of the US/Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The FTA granted preferential market access through reduced tariffs, giving us a competitive advantage in the years when Colombia’s domestic bean production falls short. This year, thanks to additional funding through FAS’s Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program and Emerging Markets Program (EMP), we are looking to continue cultivating these opportunities and enhancing our market presence.

Ready for Sabor Barranquilla

To that end, we just completed a market scoping visit to key cities on Colombia’s Atlantic Coast, an area that we believe holds particular promise for increased consumption among government and retail sectors. During the visit to Cartagena and Barranquilla we were able to gain a better understanding of consumer preferences, food practices and market opportunities for the different types of dry beans consumed in the region. We were able to present our program plans for 2019 to importers and retail chains. As a result of meetings and visits with various chefs, we believe there are several opportunities to increase US dry beans imports to Barranquilla by connecting wholesalers and retail stores with US suppliers. We are now planning to conduct a workshop for the Atlantic Coast region at the Sabor Barranquilla fair in August 2019 to reach prominent chefs, culinary experts, representatives of restaurants and hotels, and food influencers. Our goal is to focus on innovative recipes with dry beans and training attendees about the health benefits of dry bean consumption. For the full report on this opportunity, check the members-only section of our website.