Oregon Ag In Asia

Oregon Ag In Asia. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

A nearly two-week trade mission to three key Oregon export markets is under way with a delegation that includes Governor Kitzhaber and the state's agriculture director. The mission includes stops in Japan, South Korea, and China and is designed to reconnect with current customers while prospecting for new ones. Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba says the first stop is important for many reasons.
 
COBA: Clearly, Japan is still our number one overseas market for Oregon ag products. They've been in that position for many years, and I would expect them to continue in that position.

Coba says the stop in Japan has much to do with reassuring the Japanese that trade between Oregon and their country remains very important in the wake of this year's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters.

COBA: It's been a horrible tragedy. We have very strong relationships, Oregon does, with Japan. For us to come over and face-to-face just tell them, you are still so important to us and we are here supporting you any way we can. It means a lot to the Japanese people and it means a lot to the relationship between Oregon and Japan.

Having the governor and other top officials reassure the Japanese that the market is still important to Oregon is a key message for this mission. The second stop is South Korea, another top ag export market.

COBA: We are very, very excited and hopeful that Congress will ratify the Korea Free Trade Agreement because that will provide yet additional opportunities for Oregon agricultural products into South Korea.
 
Specifically, fresh blueberries into Korea is one of Oregon's best prospects for ag exports. Finally, the visit to China will include talks on an inspection and certification program that can ease the entry of Oregon ag products into the state's fastest growing export market. Coba says there's a good reason the trade mission will spend much of its time in China. 

COBA: The Department of Agriculture has been very, very active in China. It is clearly the growth market in the world. We are well positioned, geographically from an infrastructure standpoint and from a relationship standpoint.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.