Port Leaders Welcome Chilean Wheat Team, June 20, 2017, POL

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]International visitors will be in Lewiston throughout the summer to learn about local wheat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2017

CONTACT: David Doeringsfeld, Port of Lewiston Manager
(208) 743-5531
[email protected]

(Lewiston, ID) – Idaho wheat growers will host four executives from major wheat purchasing and flour producing companies in Chile on Friday, June 23, as part of a trade team sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the Idaho Wheat Commission to learn more about the quality, value and reliability of U.S. wheat imports.

While in Lewiston, the team from Chile will tour Lewis-Clark Terminal, where much of our region’s wheat is shipped out along the 465-mile Columbia Snake River System to Portland. From there, wheat is exported to international destinations. The Columbia Snake River System is the top wheat export gateway in the United States, and the third largest grain export gateway in the world.

Idaho wheat growers and wheat commissioners Bill Flory and Ned Moon will help host the team while in Lewiston.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for wheat growers to rub shoulders with their customers, and it’s a great opportunity for buyers to learn more about the crop and the supply chain in the state of Idaho,” said Flory.

Idaho wheat growers and wheat commissioners Bill Flory and Ned Moon will help host the team while in Lewiston.

In order to meet the demand unmet by domestic production, Chile imports an average of 850,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat each year. In 2016, the United States was the top supplier of wheat to Chile, at 397,000 MT, accounting for 46.5 percent of the market share.

 “These international visits showcase the important role wheat plays in our economy,” said Port of Lewiston President Mike Thomason. “People may not realize that wheat grown in our region is exported to a number of countries. Our farmers and the Columbia Snake River System play a major role in helping feed the world.”

Last week, the Idaho Wheat Commission hosted a wheat purchasing team from Taiwan. Three other international teams are scheduled to visit this summer.

Media professionals interested in attending part or all of the tour can contact Tereasa Waterman of the Idaho Wheat Commission at (208) 334-2353 or [email protected]. To learn more about the tour and the wheat purchasing team from Chile, please see the attached press release from the Idaho Wheat Commission.


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