California is once again hosting agriculture executives from another country. Sabrina Hill has more.
Japanese Wheat Officials Come to CA
Senior executives representing six Japanese flour milling companies are visiting California, Oregon, and Washington this week, to meet with all sectors of the regional grain trade from wheat breeders to farmers to exporters. The California Wheat Commission and the U.S. Wheat Associates are teaming up for the California part of the trip.
In addition to walking through wheat fields, the team will discuss new wheat breeding research. The group will head to Woodland, where they will visit the California Wheat Commission Milling and Baking Laboratory.
U.S. wheat farmers have maintained a close connection with Japan since 1949, when the
Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL) organized a trade delegation to Japan. That visit resulted in a variety of marketing and educational activities.
Since that time, Japan has purchased significantly more U.S. wheat than any other country, importing more than 133 million bushels per year on average for the last five years.