Foreign ag trade officials visiting Washington

Washington Ag Today September 12, 2011 Twenty-one representatives of foreign embassies located in Washington D.C. are touring Washington and Oregon this week. Janet Leister, the international marketing manager at the Washington State Department of Agriculture says this is part of a tour sponsored by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, which goes to different parts of the U.S. each year. This year the northwest was chosen.

Leister: “And I think the last time they were here was nine or ten years ago, so it is great to have them back again and introduce them to our great northwest and what we have to offer. These attaches are from about 30 countries. They are the decision makers in their countries regarding trade policy issues and market access issues. Of course they are here in Washington D.C. to try and help get their products into the U.S. But what is always good is relationship building and it is great for them to know what we have to offer and for our producers, farmers to get to meet them so that they will have relationships in the future should something evolve they would someone to contact they know if they need to work through any issues.”

The WSDA helped choose the locations that will be visited in the state today and tomorrow, which includes Sakuma Brothers in the Skagit Valley, Tree Top Apples and Rainer Fruit Company.

The foreign officials represent such countries as Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Norway and South Africa.

Tour participants pay their own travel, lodging, meals and tour expenses.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.