WAWG
By Steve Mercer
U.S. Wheat Associates Vice President of Communications
It is important at times to step back from the day-to-day challenges of our work to reflect on what is truly important. The week of April 12, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), its state wheat commission members and wheat farmers have two very special opportunities to do that with its customers when they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the USW office in Japan and the 50th anniversary of the USW office in Taiwan.
“I believe we can all be quite proud of the partnerships U.S. wheat farmers and our organization have formed with our Japanese and Taiwanese customers,” said USW President Alan Tracy. “Over all these years, our relationship has been built on highly ethical practices, full transparency and a commitment to the best interests of our end-use customers. We are very pleased to toast these milestones with them, thank them again for their loyalty and then turn as we must, confidently, to the future.”
Perhaps the greatest testimony to the enduring strength of these relationships is the fact that such sophisticated wheat milling and food industries have relied on U.S. wheat for so long. Japan has purchased significantly more U.S. wheat than any country in the world, certainly when counting total imports over these 60 years, as well as in most individual years. It is also humbling to say that Taiwan has relied on U.S. farmers as its primary wheat supplier with constant loyalty.
Hundreds of flour milling and food industry representatives will join more than 20 U.S. wheat farmers, state wheat commission executives, state and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service officials and USW colleagues at celebrations in Tokyo and Taipei. It is important to recognize the Idaho Wheat Commission, the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, the North Dakota Wheat Commission, the Oregon Wheat Commission and the Washington Grain Commission for their sponsorship.
From USW’s April 7 Wheat Letter