After making a visit to Germany to measure the market potential on that continent, Kreamer Feed president William D. Robinson came home encouraged about the company’s ability to compete globally.
"I told our workers, we have the opportunity to not only be the best organic feed company in the country, but in the world," Robinson recalled. "At the time, we got a few snickers."
Robinson proudly shared that anecdote moments after accepting the Governor’s Award for Export Excellence. Kreamer Feed’s award was in the "new-to-export" category.
But while the visit to Europe may have been encouraging generally, the fact that there is already an organic agriculture industry well-established in the EU suggested that getting a foothold in that region might not be easy, said Julie Eriksson, director of organic sales for Kreamer Feed. Opportunity awaited in the areas of the world where the organic industry has not yet become established.
"They don’t have the (organic) crops," to raise organic livestock in South Korea. But Kreamer Feed, which has been selling organic feed for close to 15 years, does.
Since Kreamer Feed had made inquiries, brokers began beseiging the Snyder County feed company with calls to get involved in South Korea, Eriksson said.
The Middlecreek Township feed mill began selling organic feed to customers in South Korea in 2003 and the business picked up after a trade visit to the country this summer, Robinson said.
The company has had expressions of interest from customers in other countries, as well, particularly in Asia, but also in Africa, Eriksson said. Kreamer Feed also just received an inquiry from a customer on Grenada where Hurricane Ivan decimated the crops and livestock, Robinson said.
The success of Kreamer Feed shows the potential that exporting can have for all sorts of businesses, said State Sen. John Gordner, R-27 of Berwick.
Gordner presented Kreamer Feed officials with a citation from the state Senate, while state Rep. Russ Fairchild, R-85 of Winfield, presented them with a state House resolution.
As local workers suffer as factory jobs head overseas, it’s good to hear about a Valley business selling products internationally, Fairchild said.
"These people here show we can compete," Fairchild said. "We can fight back."
As published in The Daily Item.