Growers experience wheat beyond the farm

Washington Ag Today December 14, 2009 About thirty people, mostly growers, went on the Washington Grain Commission’s Port Tour to Portland earlier this month. Commission vice president Glen Squires says it was a terrific experience.

Squires: “I think growers had a real good opportunity to see what happens to wheat once it leaves the farm. Looked at the river system. Spent time at the Wheat Marketing Center making flat breads. Lot of hands on as far as wheat quality goes. Had an opportunity to visit and export facility. Ships were loading. In fact there was a ship loading for Japan while we were there. Visited a bakery, Grand Central Bakery, where a lot of Washington wheat is utilized in their artisan bakery.”

Squires says there were two USDA Foreign Agricultural Service people on the tour as well.

Squires: “Our intent is to bring USDA folks out to the PNW to see, have them experience and understand the logistics issue out here and meet with exporters. You know those people are making decisions and estimates. So, white wheat, PNW, Washington, it is good for them to get that kind of exposure.”

The Port Tour is an annual event.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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