The Rural Voice, 1985-01, Page 7the biggest stumbling blocks for ex-
ports from Ontario, says Loh, who
specializes in export to Pacific Rim
Countries. He says that high trans-
portation costs are probably the se-
cond most troubling problem. For ex-
ample, the transportation cost of soy-
beans exported from Ontario to
Hong Kong is 35 to 38 per cent of
their price.
Doug Hedley, Director of Strategic
Planning, Agriculture Canada, also
noted at the OMAF Outlook Con-
ference that "the international
trading environment has been beset in
recent years with serious concerns
regarding increasing protectionism."
Weller predicts that the protectionism
trend will be noticeable in the new
U.S. agricultural policy.
Weller said that the strong move by
certain U.S. groups toward protec-
tionist trade practices bothers him a
great deal. He was told by one U.S.
Senator, "You haven't seen anything
yet when it comes to protectionist
trade policies. Wait until the new ses-
sion of Congress ..." This attitude,
Weller says, can only hurt all those
committed to the free movement of
agricultural goods. "I hope he's
wrong."
Another of the biggest challenges
for Ontario exporters is simply com-
petition from other countries. Cost of
production for some commodities is
much higher in Canada than in the
United States. As well, developing
countries can offer prices against
which Ontario simply cannot com-
pete.
In spite of the challenges in export,
Ontario is seeking export opportun-
ities all over the world. The export
division of OMAF provides a number
of services to promote trade. It keeps
Ontario companies in touch with
overseas buyers, provides financial
assistance to develop markets,
welcomes incoming missions, gives
financial assistance to export mis-
sions, and gives assistance to com-
panies in creating promotional
materials.
In 1984 alone, 35 trade missions
from Ontario involving 200 com-
panies went to seek export oppor-
tunities in other countries. Loh says
that the possibility of more exports
from the United States and Pacific
Rim countries, is promising, especial-
ly at this time.
The efforts of many organizations
make Ontario a key contender in in-
ternational trade competition. Ex-
ports could very well be called the
Olympics of the modern economy.
After 17 years
in the export business,
Charles Broadwell
has established
an "export recipe';
Marketing
the white bean
harles Broadwell learned the
ins and outs of exporting
through necessity. As the first
manager of the Ontario Bean Pro-
ducers' Marketing Board (OPPMB)
in 1967-68, Broadwell was forced to
find foreign markets for this com-
modity. "People want action, not ex-
cuses. I'd rather do something than
explain why I didn't," Broadwell
says. Because there were (and still
are) no production limits for growing
white beans, producers simply have
to look elsewhere for markets when
the domestic market is saturated.
After 17 years in the export business,
Broadwell has established an "export
recipe" through his own experience
and over the years has been consulted
by many other businesses and com-
modity groups.
Even today a minority of white
beans produced in Ontario is consum-
ed domestically. Between 75 and 80
per cent of the crop is exported. The
combined exports through commer-
cial sales and world food aid projects
put Ontario white beans on the kit-
chen table in 71 different countries.
Broadwell himself has visited more
than 50 countries encouraging the
world to "eat more beans." He
returned recently from a trade mis-
sion to Bulgaria and the United
Kingdom. The trip reinforced poten-
tial market opportunities and firmly
cemented trade relations in these two
areas.
The Bulgaria connection for this
trade mission was initiated when a
Bulgarian delegation visited Ontario
with an interest in technology related
to white bean production. Broadwell
had been planning to attend a con-
ference in the U.K. After he had his
tickets purchased, he received an in-
vitation from the Bulgarian govern-
ment. The tickets were changed and a
delegation of five made a detour to
Bulgaria on their way to the U.K.
Also on the trade mission were: Doug
Hope, president of the Ontario Bean
Dealers' Association and sales
manager of W.G. Thompson and
Sons Ltd.; Peter Twynstra, vice-
president of the Ontario Bean
Dealers' Association and President of
the Great Canadian Bean Co.; Evelyn
Simons, Sales Manager of the On-
tario Bean Growers' Co-op and
secretary of the Ontario Bean
Dealers' Association; and Alan
South, chairman of the OBPMB.
The group first met with agri-
cultural experts to discuss research in
the production of beans. "In
Bulgaria they have the same produc-
tion problems we have; they also have
a few extra problems," Broadwell
says. In the 1960s they planted and
JANUARY 1985 5