|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Business Briefs - Oct. 29, 2008 |
|
|
|
Ohio Wheat Growers host Spanish trade team
LUCKEY, Ohio — A Spanish trade team comprised of officials from four of Spain’s largest milling companies and the director of the Spanish Millers Assoc. recently visited Ohio to learn more about the types of wheat grown in the Buckeye State.
After visiting Minnesota and North Dakota, the team visited The Ohio State University and USDA/ARS labs in Wooster, Mennel Flour Mill in Bucyrus and Archer Daniels Midland terminal on the Maumee River in Toledo.
Ohio Wheat Growers Assoc. (OWGA) Vice President Jay Griffith gave the team a tour of his farm in Luckey near Fostoria, that was followed by a dinner.
“The more solid relationship you can form with your customer the longer that business relationship will last,” he said. “These are customers from around the world; we’re giving them opportunities to make them comfortable with our products.”
According to the U.S. Wheat Associates, which sponsored the trade team, Spain went from importing almost no U.S. wheat in 1993 to being the number one EU importer in 2007-08. Spain does have a sizeable domestic crop; however, in past years their crop has varied in size and quality.
A large portion of Spain’s production is used for feed, competing directly with quality milling wheat for acreage.
Because of the inconsistency of their crop, Spanish millers have increasingly sought higher quality wheat to blend with their domestic supplies, resulting in a higher quality blend perfect for milling and baking.
Ohio wheat growers are number one in the U.S. in soft red winter wheat production.
Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country and grains are a vital part of the economy.
The Spanish team was accompanied by Goris Van Lit, director of the U.S. Wheat Associates office in Rotterdam. |
| 10/29/2008 |
|
|
|
|
