The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC), in collaboration with the Idaho Barley Commission (IBC), North Dakota Barley Council (NDBC) and Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA), organized a goodwill mission connecting U.S. growers to two major Mexican brewing companies.
“Building business relationships with Mexican brewers is critical to align supply chains, ensure quality control and address concerns like soil presence in barley shipments,” said Javier Chávez, USGBC senior marketing manager.
“These relationships foster trust and streamline logistics, enabling customers to secure reliable, high-quality barley for their expanding brewery operations via direct contracts.”
Chávez and USGBC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade Sadie Marks were joined in San Antonio by farmers from the IBC, NDBC and MGGA, where the team departed for a tour of a major multinational brewer just across the Mexican border.
The next day, the group flew to Monterrey for a meeting with U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) representatives at the U.S. consulate. The ATO staff accompanied the Council’s delegation on a tour of a nearby brewery that included meetings with the company’s procurement team to discuss how U.S. growers can supply the Mexican brewing industry.
Participants on the tour included Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Directors Lee Dahlman of Dutton and Courtney Herzog of Rapelje as well as Sunburst grower Jim Nagy.
The tour visited the Constellation brewery responsible for brands like Corona, Modelo and Pacifico. The brewery spans 880 acres, produces 25 million cans of beer each day and 85 percent of the barley they use comes from the U.S.
“The Council has been actively promoting U.S. barley as the preferred choice for Mexico’s brewing industry through targeted initiatives, strengthening ties by organizing educational programs, visits to malting facilities and direct farmer engagement,” Marks said. “These efforts ensure Mexican brewers understand the quality, reliability and logistical advantages of U.S. barley and continue sustained demand for U.S. growers.”
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USGBC
