By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture hosted a delegation from Turkey last week to showcase Indiana hardwoods, an industry that generates $7.5 billion dollars annually and employs more than 54,000 Hoosiers.

The relationship between ISDA and Turkey began last year when ISDA traveled to the Intermob Furniture Fair in Istanbul with the American Hardwood Export Council and Hardwood Sales Export Group. The trip, made at no cost to the State of Indiana, resulted in 35 trade leads for lumber and veneer.

“International trade holds huge potential for Hoosier farmers and additional jobs,” said Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who also serves as the state’s Secretary of Agriculture.

“We will continue to aggressively pursue these opportunities alongside our agriculture community.”

The group visited Indiana Veneers Corp. in Indianapolis, the oldest sliced veneer mill in North America, John M. Wooley Lumber Co., Indianapolis, a full-service lumber yard, and Pike Lumber Co. in Akron, northern Indiana’s largest manufacturer and distributor of quality hardwoods.

ISDA hosted a follow-up session to provide one-on-one meetings between the Turkish delegation and Indiana manufacturers to discuss purchasing opportunities for veneer, lumber and logs.
“Indiana hardwoods offer tremendous opportunities for our Hoosier economy,” said Indiana Agriculture Director Joe Kelsay.

Since its establishment in 2005, ISDA has worked domestically and globally for marketing/sales opportunities for Indiana hardwood manufacturers.