About
“Momo is a steamed bun generally with a meat or cheese filling and is considered a fast food in many regions of Nepal” (Wikipedia). Momo is the Tibetan and Nepalese version of the dumpling, which is a food that many North Americans currently enjoy today throughout their lives. So now this begs the question, “Why not let Westerners enjoy momo like so many Southern Asians do everyday?” Throughout this research essay we will bring to light many of the benefits of momo and how we can get them into the hands of North Americans for consumption. To answer these questions, we will need to take a close, non-biased look at some varying factors such as; nutritional values, and trade criteria, involved with the production and consumption of momo.
In a country as poor as Nepal, good nutrition for the average citizen is a hard thing to come by. Therefore, it is imperative that the Nepalese do their best with what they have, and consume foods that gives them strength and energy everyday. Thankfully with its simple ingredients and easy-to-cook style, momo is a perfect food for both strength and energy, and as such, is a staple in the Nepalese diet. Momo is consistently made with several different vegetables and herbs for flavouring and texture, and is generally stuffed with pork as a filling (although tofu is a very common substitute for pork). All of these different ingredients that are involved in the making of momo have the possibility to help several different types of farmers in Nepal. From the carrots that are used as a filling to the flour (made by cereal grains such as wheat - a staple crop amongst the Nepalese) used to make the momo wrappers, there is great potential to help the farmers of Nepal. Not only will momo bring income into small villages and families that produce the vegetables and herbs it requires, but it will also give the women who generally make momo a sense of pride when seeing that their product is helping their friends and families amongst the village. Momo can also provide nutritional value to its consumers as it is stuffed with meat and vegetables. In fact, I was able come across this chart that perfectly illustrates these values: Calories 48 Protein 2 G Carbohydrates 7 G Fat 1 G Sodium 74 Mg Now, although not the most ideal food when it comes to getting daily nutritional values all in one place, momo does provide a good source of calories and some protein to an otherwise bleak of diet of mostly vegetables and roots. Alone, one momo is hardly a food to be sought after for high nutrition. However, when eaten several at a time, as they normally are, they can provide ample protein and hundreds of calories to the consumer. Keeping in mind the nutritional value of several momo at a time, we will move further on and look into potential trading of momo. When considering trading a product, several things must be taken into account. According to the article, ‘Exporting is Good for your Bottom Line’ that was written by the International Trade Administration, there are select key features that one should look at when making a decision on whether or not to export a good or service. There were two points in this article that really stuck out to me. They were: profitability- the ability to earn money off of something, and risk mitigation- the ability to ride out fluctuations in the economy. Both of these aspects are essential to the Nepalese government and economy and if brought on to export, momo could certainly help with both of these characteristics. As we all know, fast food and deep-fried food is a huge part of today’s North American culture. We buy large quantities of food that is quick to eat, easy to make, and affordable. Much like today’s dumplings and perogies that are bought in large Costco sized bags and cooked up by the dozens, momo would take after this style of soft-shelled pastry and also be sold in large bagged quantities for affordable prices. We will look into this further while discussing potential buyers within Canada. Already having an idea of where to go once momo is brought on as an export to Canada, the only following matter left to attend to are prospective buyers in Canada. When originally thinking of this topic, I immediately thought close to home such as a local Tibetan store. Then I realized however just how great the potential of momo actually is with how similar of a product it is to so many other frozen foods in supermarkets, so I started thinking bigger. In the end, I came up with two of the biggest brands in the food world today - both in Canada and worldwide. The first company I came up, and one that I have already spent nearly 4 years working for with zero complaint, is Loblaws. With over 2300 locations across Canada as well as their President’s Choice and No Name brands, they are a perfect fit. Their C.E.O. Galen Weston Jr. is a well-known figure in Canada who, if brought on board to our initiative, could sing-handedly help change people’s thoughts and opinions on momo and the Nepalese. Unfortunately I could not find a direct line to business inquiries within Loblaws but they can be contacted using these two methods: phone: 1-(888)-495-5111, or e-mail: [email protected]. The second company I believe would be a great fit for frozen momo is Costco. With over 650 stores worldwide and a revenue last year of over 105 billion dollars US, this powerhouse would be another excellent fit to have momo distributed within their walls. Costco is very open to food suggestions from eager suppliers and can be reached a couple of different ways. The first is with their eastern divisional office at 4590 Horseshoe Drive, Suite 150- Sterling, VA 20166, U.S.A. The second office that can be reached is the Eastern Canadian corporate head office at 415 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON- K2E 1C5. Both companies would be of great assistance to farmers of Nepal, especially if producing on a mass level such as these companies do.
In conclusion with the above facts and statements, I would argue that implementing momo into an export agreement between Canada and Nepal would bring nothing but full stomachs to Canada and a full source of income to the Nepalese. With so many great products coming out everyday it is hard to find a food that is unique, delicious, and affordable. However, I believe we have found it with frozen momo. Especially with Canada’s diverse multiculturalism momo should have no trouble at all fitting right in with our diets and showing Canada why it belongs and is here to stay.
In a country as poor as Nepal, good nutrition for the average citizen is a hard thing to come by. Therefore, it is imperative that the Nepalese do their best with what they have, and consume foods that gives them strength and energy everyday. Thankfully with its simple ingredients and easy-to-cook style, momo is a perfect food for both strength and energy, and as such, is a staple in the Nepalese diet. Momo is consistently made with several different vegetables and herbs for flavouring and texture, and is generally stuffed with pork as a filling (although tofu is a very common substitute for pork). All of these different ingredients that are involved in the making of momo have the possibility to help several different types of farmers in Nepal. From the carrots that are used as a filling to the flour (made by cereal grains such as wheat - a staple crop amongst the Nepalese) used to make the momo wrappers, there is great potential to help the farmers of Nepal. Not only will momo bring income into small villages and families that produce the vegetables and herbs it requires, but it will also give the women who generally make momo a sense of pride when seeing that their product is helping their friends and families amongst the village. Momo can also provide nutritional value to its consumers as it is stuffed with meat and vegetables. In fact, I was able come across this chart that perfectly illustrates these values: Calories 48 Protein 2 G Carbohydrates 7 G Fat 1 G Sodium 74 Mg Now, although not the most ideal food when it comes to getting daily nutritional values all in one place, momo does provide a good source of calories and some protein to an otherwise bleak of diet of mostly vegetables and roots. Alone, one momo is hardly a food to be sought after for high nutrition. However, when eaten several at a time, as they normally are, they can provide ample protein and hundreds of calories to the consumer. Keeping in mind the nutritional value of several momo at a time, we will move further on and look into potential trading of momo. When considering trading a product, several things must be taken into account. According to the article, ‘Exporting is Good for your Bottom Line’ that was written by the International Trade Administration, there are select key features that one should look at when making a decision on whether or not to export a good or service. There were two points in this article that really stuck out to me. They were: profitability- the ability to earn money off of something, and risk mitigation- the ability to ride out fluctuations in the economy. Both of these aspects are essential to the Nepalese government and economy and if brought on to export, momo could certainly help with both of these characteristics. As we all know, fast food and deep-fried food is a huge part of today’s North American culture. We buy large quantities of food that is quick to eat, easy to make, and affordable. Much like today’s dumplings and perogies that are bought in large Costco sized bags and cooked up by the dozens, momo would take after this style of soft-shelled pastry and also be sold in large bagged quantities for affordable prices. We will look into this further while discussing potential buyers within Canada. Already having an idea of where to go once momo is brought on as an export to Canada, the only following matter left to attend to are prospective buyers in Canada. When originally thinking of this topic, I immediately thought close to home such as a local Tibetan store. Then I realized however just how great the potential of momo actually is with how similar of a product it is to so many other frozen foods in supermarkets, so I started thinking bigger. In the end, I came up with two of the biggest brands in the food world today - both in Canada and worldwide. The first company I came up, and one that I have already spent nearly 4 years working for with zero complaint, is Loblaws. With over 2300 locations across Canada as well as their President’s Choice and No Name brands, they are a perfect fit. Their C.E.O. Galen Weston Jr. is a well-known figure in Canada who, if brought on board to our initiative, could sing-handedly help change people’s thoughts and opinions on momo and the Nepalese. Unfortunately I could not find a direct line to business inquiries within Loblaws but they can be contacted using these two methods: phone: 1-(888)-495-5111, or e-mail: [email protected]. The second company I believe would be a great fit for frozen momo is Costco. With over 650 stores worldwide and a revenue last year of over 105 billion dollars US, this powerhouse would be another excellent fit to have momo distributed within their walls. Costco is very open to food suggestions from eager suppliers and can be reached a couple of different ways. The first is with their eastern divisional office at 4590 Horseshoe Drive, Suite 150- Sterling, VA 20166, U.S.A. The second office that can be reached is the Eastern Canadian corporate head office at 415 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON- K2E 1C5. Both companies would be of great assistance to farmers of Nepal, especially if producing on a mass level such as these companies do.
In conclusion with the above facts and statements, I would argue that implementing momo into an export agreement between Canada and Nepal would bring nothing but full stomachs to Canada and a full source of income to the Nepalese. With so many great products coming out everyday it is hard to find a food that is unique, delicious, and affordable. However, I believe we have found it with frozen momo. Especially with Canada’s diverse multiculturalism momo should have no trouble at all fitting right in with our diets and showing Canada why it belongs and is here to stay.