Northern Crops Institute

Connecting in the Global Marketplace

Northern Crops Institute
NDSU Dept. 7400
PO Box 6050
Fargo, North Dakota, USA 58108-6050
Phone: 701-231-7736
Fax: 701-231-7235
Email: nci@ndsu.edu

What's New at NCI?

News Release about the Course

Photos from the Course

May 13, 2013 -- Fifteen food processors from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and USA are at NCI to attend the Snack Food Opportunities for U.S. Dry Beans Course from May 13-17.  The course is co-sponsored by the U.S. Dry Bean Council. The NCI Extrusion Laboratory is showcased as the participants spend a significant time there observing the manufacture of various snack foods.  The group also toured the NDSU AES Greenhouse, NDSU edible bean breeding field plots, and the SK Food Specialty Processing Facility in Moorhead, Minn. Lecture topics include:  dry bean breeding program, consumption trends, ingredients and applications, bean and corn milling, single and twin-screw extrusion technology, nutrition, starch and protein functionality, and product trends.

News Release about the course

Photos from course

March 26, 2013 - Fourteen North Dakota companies gathered at Northern Crops Institute for a press conference after a week in Beijing and Guangzhou, China, where they successfully demonstrated uses for North Dakota’s high-quality commodities in Chinese food products. Dean Gorder, NDTO Executive Director, led the press conference.  The “Better for You Food Ingredients” mission was organized by the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO), the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and NCI.  “Our goal is to connect the producer and the consumer, thru the processor, linking science and technology to meet consumer trends and demands,” Crabtree said. 

Dean Gorder, NDTO Executive Director, (at podium), led the press conference. Also pictured (standing from l to r) are Tom Wahl, NDSU; John Crabtree, NCI; Brian Andrew, Red River Commodities; and ND Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring.

March 18, 2013 -- During the China Trade Mission, NCI Crop Quality Specialist Thunyaporn Naggie Jeradechachai gave presentations in Guangzhou and Beijing, China, to demonstrate the uses of North Dakota value-added ingredients.

March 21, 2013 -- John Crabtree, NCI Assistant Director, spoke to the conference audience in Beijing about the services that Northern Crops Institute and the region can provide to the China food industry. “NCI has extensively researched how North Dakota commodities can be used as food ingredients in Chinese cuisine at various levels that add value to the processor and the consumer,” said John Crabtree, NCI Assistant Director.

Feburary 11, 2013 -- Thunyaporn Naggie Jeradechachai, (left), NCI Crop Quality Specialist, and Ali McDaniel, (right), USADPLC Food Marketing Manager, promoted the region’s pulses during the Tops Exhibition in Chicago, IL, in February. Jeradechachai answered technical questions on pulse utilization, especially the health benefits and functionality of pulse starch, fiber, and protein.

December 6, 2012 -- Kim Koch, NCI Feed Center manager, sends this photo from the Minnesota Feed Mission in Southeast Asia. The group visited a Tempe production and training center in Indonesia. Note the very nice welcoming banner above the entrance. The mission is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

December 4, 2012 -- Kim Koch, Ph.D., NCI Feed Center manager, is presenting seminars in Manila, Philippines, and Jakarta, Indonesia, for the next six days.  His trip is part of the Minnesota Feed Mission, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  In addition to speaking on feed manufacturing, Koch will have the opportunity to meet with industry representatives and make visits to local feedmills. 

November 20, 2012 -- The 17-member Northern Crops Council met at Northern Crops Institute for their fall Board Meeting. Their next meeting will be Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Robert Majkrzak, CEO of Red River Commodities, Fargo, is the present NCC Chair. Karolyn Zurn, a producer from Callaway, Minn., is vice chair.

More information about the Northern Crops Council.

Link to more photos from the course.

October 15, 2012 -- A 20-member Philippine Import Group is at NCI to learn more about regional soybeans, and the activities of Northern Crops Institute.  They are hosted by the North Dakota Soybean Council.  They will tour the NCI Facilities, NCI Feed Center, NDSU Greenhouse complex, and the NDSU Commodity Trading Room at Barry Hall.  The Philippines is the third largest market for U.S. soy meal.  In 2011, the U.S. provided 61% of their soy imports.  They were escorted by Michelle Swenson, Director of Marketing and Development with the North Dakota Soybean Council.

October 11, 2012 --Kim Koch, Ph.D., NCI Feed Center manager, is in Morocco, assisting poultry farms in their feed manufacturing operations.  His trip is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).  These photos are at the farm of Zaim, who is the president of the Moroccan Poultry Association.  The farm operation is about 50 km north of Marrakech.  USGC believes using roller-grinders in the manufacture of poultry feed will help by the poultry growers to become more efficient when using U.S. corn and sorghum.

September 17, 2012 -- Thirty-five grain buyers from 17 nations are learning how to make more effective purchases while decreasing their risk as they attend the 2012 Grain Procurement Management for Importers short course at NCI. The course runs from September 17-26. Grain buyers attending the course are from Belgium, Chile, China, Egypt, Guatemala, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates. U.S. Wheat Associates and the USDA FAS Cochran Fellowship Program are sponsoring participants. Highlights are lectures by academic and commodity trade authorities on cash and futures markets and sessions with grain merchandisers. On-site tours of the NDSU Electronic Trading Room, a local wheat farm, country elevator, Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, an export grain terminal, and a barge facility will round-out the course.

Link to Photos from Course

August 16, 2012 -- Rachel Carlson (left), NCI Food Technologist, and Thunyaporn (Naggie) Jeradechachai (right), NCI Crop Quality Specialist, taught at a pulse promotion course at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in St. Helena, Calif., in August. The Legumes: Wholesome Ingredients for Value-Added Foods short course was sponsored by the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council. Jeradechachai presented a lecture on pulse ingredients and utilization. The course featured cooking demonstrations that utilized pulse products along with hands-on baking and cooking opportunities with legumes. The attendees were chefs, food processors, and ingredient suppliers. Carlson and Jeradechachai are pictured with Chef Richard Coppedge (center) from the CIA, Hyde Park, N.Y.

August 10, 2012 -- A Philippines Wheat Trade Team is at NCI to learn about new crop hard red spring wheat (HRS) prospects and activities and programs that promote wheat consumption in the U.S.  The team is composed of flour milling and food industry marketing executives.  While in the state, the team will also meet with HRS breeding and quality researchers from North Dakota State University as well as a nutrition expert. The team will see samples of the 2012 HRS crop and receive a quality and supply and demand update.  After departing North Dakota, the team will make visits to Minnesota, Montana and Oregon.  Joe Sowers, U.S. Wheat Associates, South Asia, is accompanying the group. They are hosted by Erica Olson, North Dakota Wheat Commission.

July 10, 2012 -- Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permitted barley food products to carry a health claim recognizing the positive effects of β-glucan soluble fiber, the use of barley has increased. Seven participants from Chile, Taiwan, and USA attended the Healthy Solutions for Food Barley Uses Short Course July 10-12, at NCI, to learn more about how they can use barley in their food products. This course focused on current barley health research and benefits of β-glucan and dietary fiber in food barley; basic definitions of hulled and hull-less barley; quality characteristics and functionality; how to incorporate barley into food product; and marketing trends of barley.  Participants also gained hands-on experience in barley processing, sensory evaluation, analytical testing, baking, and evaluation of baked goods.  The group toured MGI Grain Processing, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Photos from the course

June 25-28 – Kaye Effertz (right), Marketing Director for Northern Pulse Growers Association, and Thunyaporn (Naggie) Jeradechachai (left), NCI Crop Quality Specialist, assisted at the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council’s booth during the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Expo in Las Vegas, Nev. They discussed the uses and benefits of pulses, while serving rice crispy treats made from yellow peas and yellow pea caramel puffs. The food samples were made at NCI.

June 19-22, 2012 -- Thunyaporn (Naggie) Jeradechachai (far right), NCI Crop Quality Specialist, presented a seminar during the Introduction to Japanese Sweet Beans 2012 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  The seminar was sponsored by the U.S. Dry Bean Council.  Jeradechachai discussed the diverse applications and benefits of bean paste and flour. The sweet bean paste was made in Japan with U.S. dry beans.  She also prepared Danishes, cookies, coffee breads, and scones made with Japanese sweet bean paste for the 40 participants that included bakers, chefs, and food manufacturers from Mexico and Dominican Republic.

May 21, 2012 -- Rachel Carlson (right), NCI Food Technologist, and Thunyaporn Naggie Jeradechachai (left), NCI Crop Quality Specialist, attended the Café Breakfast Pastries baking short course at the Culinary Institute of America, N.Y. They learned how to make laminated dough products, as well as other breakfast pastries. Rachel and Naggie are looking forward to incorporating what they have learned in the NCI short courses.  Hans Welker (center) was their main instructor.

May 14, 2012 -- Seventeen grain buyers from Honduras, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Trinidad, and USA are attending the Advanced Grain Procurement Strategies Short Course at Northern Crops Institute (NCI) in Fargo, N.D.  Eleven participants are sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates. The course, which runs from May 14-18, is designed for global grain buyers who want to gain a competitive edge in grain marketing decisions to better manage price and quality risks. Trading and tendering games, case studies involving real world situations, and panel discussions give participants practical experience in applying what they have learned. The group also tours the Alton Grain Terminal, Hillsboro, N.D., to learn how their shuttle train facility operates.      

Link to Short Course Photos
Link to News Release About the Course      

April 18, 2012 -- Thunyaporn (Naggie) Jeradechachai, NCI Crop Quality Specialist, was the speaker for a Food Product Design Webinar promoting the benefits and use of sunflower butter and flavor.  The Webinar was sponsored by Red River Commodities, SunButter division.  Jeradechachai discussed the nutritional benefits, allergen issues, food product applications, sensory studies and the new products in the market that contain sunflower butter. Her main objective was to show the audience that there is a wide variety of food applications in which sunflower butter can be used, and that there is a huge market opportunity for the flavor of sunflower.

April 11, 2012 -- Northern Crops Institute (NCI) received the 2011 Service to Exporters Award at the 2012 Global Business Connections Conference in Fargo, N.D., on April 11. The award was presented by North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, on behalf of the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO). The NDTO Service to Exporters Award is an accolade given to one organization which demonstrates exceptional commitment to supporting North Dakota exporters and increasing the state’s international business. The award was accepted by John Crabtree, NCI Assistant Director. “NCI has consistently provided opportunities for North Dakota exporters through their significant exposure to buyers and processors around the world,” says Dean Gorder, Executive Director of the North Dakota Trade Office. “The North Dakota Trade Office looks forward to continuing and expanding this great relationship,” he concludes.

April 10, 2012 -- Thirty-six participants from pasta manufacturing companies in Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, and USA are attending the Pasta Production and Technology Short Course this week at NCI. This is a record enrollment for the short course, which has been offered annually since 1984. The pasta course, which runs from April 10-12, is designed to showcase the high quality durum wheat that is produced in this region. Eight participants are sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates. Participants will gain hands-on experience in processing traditional pasta made with semolina, as well as ravioli and gluten-free pasta.

Link to Short Course Photos
Link to News Release About the Course

March 12-16, 2012 -- Natsuki Fujiwara, NCI Food Technologist, attended the All About Baking short course at AIB International, Manhattan, Kan. This course provided both theoretical and technical information on baking various products including tortillas, sweet dough, cakes, and donuts. Twenty participants from domestic food companies participated in the course to learn the basics of baking.

January 24, 2012 -- Thunyaporn “Naggie” Jeradechachai, NCI Crop Quality Specialist, and Rachel Carlson, NCI Food Technologist, attended the Northern Pulse Growers Association’s  annual convention in Minot N.D.  Jeradechachai presented a seminar on the utilization of pulse ingredients.  In addition, they made pulse fries and pea fiber cookies during the social hour for the convention.