Jocelyn Garcia

Career Trajectory: From Regional Reporting to Global Commodities

Jocelyn Garcia has carved a niche in agricultural journalism through her rigorous analysis of commodity markets and supply chain dynamics. Beginning her career covering domestic beef markets, she transitioned to Fastmarkets in 2021, where she now specializes in US corn and wheat markets. Her bilingual fluency (Spanish/English) and Mexico City roots inform her nuanced coverage of North American trade patterns.

• 2021-2023: Built foundational expertise in USDA reporting frameworks, becoming a go-to source for interpreting WASDE data fluctuations
• 2024-Present: Expanded coverage to include Black Sea grain markets amid Russia-Ukraine conflicts, providing critical insights into global supply disruptions

Defining Works: Three Articles That Shaped Market Understanding

Ukraine’s Grain Export Surge: April 2025 Market Analysis

This piece dissected a 60% week-over-week increase in Ukrainian grain exports through Black Sea corridors, contextualizing it within:

• Recent security agreements between Ukraine and NATO allies
• Competitive pricing strategies against Russian wheat exports

Garcia’s sourcing of 12 Ukrainian traders revealed how farmers accelerated sales ahead of anticipated spring planting challenges. The article became essential reading for commodities futures traders, cited in CME Group’s weekly market wrap.

2025/26 Ukraine Crop Projections: Beyond the Headlines

While most outlets focused on Ukraine’s corn production rebound, Garcia’s investigation uncovered:

• Persistent fertilizer access disparities between large agribusinesses and family farms
• Unreported seed quality issues stemming from wartime supply chain gaps

Her ground reporting from Odesa contrasted with optimistic government forecasts, prompting the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to revise its risk assessments.

WASDE Report Breakdown: The Hidden Pressures on Global Corn Stocks

When the USDA maintained its US corn outlook in March 2025, Garcia identified three underreported factors:

• Brazil’s delayed safrinha corn planting due to soybean harvest setbacks
• China’s strategic reserve releases impacting import demand calculations
• Ethanol blend rate adjustments in US energy policy

This analysis became required reading for C-suite strategists at Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill, influencing their Q2 procurement strategies.

Pitch Strategy: Aligning With Garcia’s Editorial Priorities

1. Lead With USDA Data Counterpoints

Garcia frequently seeks alternative interpretations of government reports. A successful pitch might contrast USDA’s weekly export sales data with:

• Real-time shipping manifests from Gulf Coast terminals
• Currency fluctuation impacts not captured in official metrics

Example: Her March 2025 piece cross-referenced EIA ethanol production stats with railcar leasing rates to predict corn demand shifts.

2. Contextualize Export Data Geopolitically

With 43% of her 2025 articles addressing export markets, Garcia values sources who can:

• Explain how Panama Canal draft restrictions affect grain freight economics
• Detail Chinese tariff policy impacts on South American trade flows

Case Study: Her April 2025 Ukraine export analysis incorporated interviews with Turkish shipping insurers navigating Black Sea war risk premiums.

3. Bridge Agricultural and Environmental Policy

While not primarily an environmental reporter, Garcia increasingly connects:

• Drought monitor updates to crop insurance claim trends
• Biofuel mandate changes to planting intention surveys

Successful Pitch: A February 2025 piece on Argentina’s flooding crisis linked rainfall patterns to soybean quality downgrades, using climate models from Buenos Aires Grains Exchange meteorologists.

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2024 North American Agricultural Journalists Award Finalist
  Recognized for her series on Mexico-US corn trade disputes, which featured unprecedented access to NAFTA renegotiation working groups

5 Essential Pitching Guidelines

• Time Sensitivity: Pitch 6-8 weeks ahead of USDA report releases for maximum impact
• Data Depth: Include at least three comparative datasets (e.g., historical averages, competitor benchmarks)
• Geographic Scope: Emphasize North American market impacts with global supply chain context
• Expertise Level: Assume reader familiarity with futures contracts and basis trading
• Visual Assets: Provide embeddable charts using Fastmarkets’ price assessment methodologies