U.S. Wheat Supply Chain System: Research and Plant Breeding
By Michael Anderson, USW Assistant Director, West Coast Office Professional millers and bakers know that the appearance and taste of every product depends on the specific characteristics imparted by its flour ingredient. And those characteristics are deeply rooted in the ancient craft of plant breeding. [Plant breeding is an ancient craft.] As far back as […]
U.S. Wheat Farmers and Their Overseas Customers Share Unique Connections
Behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people. Those people, from U.S. Wheat Associates staff to the state wheat commissions and U.S. wheat farm families to the many hands along the U.S. supply chain, represent an industry that is always changing. But many of the overseas customers USW works […]
Cheers to the Long and Beneficial Relationship with Japan
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), its grain trade, flour millers and wheat food processors have developed a strong trust in the quality and consistency of U.S. wheat and the entire U.S. wheat supply system. It is a trust that has weathered many challenges, including concerns about U.S. wheat competitiveness under the multilateral […]
Wheat, Sorghum and Rice Growers Observe the Value of Food Aid Programs in East Africa
By Elizabeth Westendorf, USW Assistant Director of Policy Of the more than 1.9 million metric tons (MMT) of international food commodities the United States donated in 2018/19, more than 800,000 MT of it was high-quality milling wheat. Given the important role U.S. agriculture plays in supporting the neediest people around the world, farmers representing U.S. […]
Expanded Trade Delegation Effort Connects Buyers, Farmers and U.S. Wheat Organizations
By Catherine Miller, USW Program and Planning Coordinator One of the most important types of activities U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) overseas representatives conduct is trade service. In other words, they help their customers understand how to get the most value as possible from their U.S. wheat purchases. A crucial part of trade service is giving […]
Promoting U.S. Wheat Around the World
As U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Vince Peterson often says, at any given hour of the day there is someone, somewhere, talking about the quality, reliability and value of U.S. wheat. Wheat Letter wants to share some of the ways USW was working in June to promote all six classes of U.S. wheat in an […]
Wheat Buyers and Officials from Six Countries Kick Off USW Trade Team Season
Each year, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) invests funding from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service export market development programs to bring several teams of overseas customers and stakeholders to the United States. Visiting wheat-producing states connects customers with farmers as well as state wheat commissions and industry partners that co-sponsor local visits. The goal is the same […]
Milling Executives from the Philippines Start Their Tour of the U.S. Wheat Supply Chain in Oregon
By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) believes customer engagement, supply chain transparency and free access to market information are the building blocks for robust relationships with U.S. wheat overseas customers. Every year, USW hosts several foreign trade delegations on trips to the United States to help foster these relationships. These delegations […]
Oregon Farmer Gives U.S. Wheat Customers Lasting Memories of Their Visit
By Amanda J. Spoo, USW Director of Communications “How’s the weather up there?” That was Ric Pinca’s first question to Darren Padget when they met. At a height of six feet, eight inches (203 cm), Darren towers over Pinca’s five-foot, six-inch (168 cm) frame and most people that he meets. Pinca, the executive director of […]
U.S. Wheat Farmers Discuss Wheat Quality with Customers in Spain, Portugal and Morocco
By Elizabeth Westendorf, USW Assistant Director of Policy Every year, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) invites farmers (selected by state wheat commissions) to visit U.S. wheat customers overseas to learn more about international markets, customer needs, and the role of U.S. wheat in their businesses. This year, USW Assistant Director of Policy Elizabeth Westendorf led a […]