Growing demand for soft white wheat in Central and South America
Farm and Ranch November 21, 2011 This is a story of wheat market development success. About ten years ago the Washington Grain Commission decided to spend more time on market development in Central and South America. Commission vice president Glen Squires says trips were made to visit with buyers and millers and eventually sample shipments of white wheat were sent. Squires: “You know market development takes a little time and actually what we have seen is dramatic growth in exports to Guatemala. In fact beginning in 05-06 marketing year soft white wheat exports began flowing into Guatemala and we are up to, last year there was 100-thousand metric tons of soft white that went into Guatemala. Chile is another classic example. Soft white wheat the last couple of years has been, 30% of our exports have been soft white.” Colombia is another example. Squires says the buyers have discovered one of the selling points for soft white, which is low moisture. Squires: “And so when they buy wheat they are buying wheat instead of moisture, water. They can add the water at the mill.” This work is just a sample of what grain and wheat commissions in the region do with some of the assessment money that is collected from growers. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
