TobaccoAsia/ InterTabac Podcast #44

In this episode, host Thomas Schmid interviews Kimberly Foley, the new Executive Director of U.S. FCV grower cooperative, Tobacco Associates. Kimberly shares her passion for the U.S. tobacco market and outlines her plans to maintain and enhance the organization’s operations, focusing on quality, farmer visibility, and market development. She elaborates on efforts to navigate challenges such as global competition, costs, and tariffs, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong international partnerships. She identifies potential growth markets for U.S. leaf, including Japan, Turkey, India, Egypt, Vietnam, Thailand, and Poland, while acknowledging the complexities of certain regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The conversation also touches upon the significance of American Blend market share and the strategies to promote U.S. tobacco globally.