Fresh Retail Buying Mission

The Washington State Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association have been hosting a delegation of buyers from Southeast Asia this week to showcase Washington fresh fruit and vegetable items. WSDA International Trade Specialist, Rebecca Weber, talks about the visits main objective.

WEBER: We have six countries represented in this particular group - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The main objective is to expand the market - so really for the buyers to be able to have an opportunity to meet more suppliers, and particularly through the tours to understand better about the production and packing quality of the fruit, and a little bit about the availability of this year’s crop. And of course for our Washington and western shippers to be able to meet the buyers and develop better relationships.

Weber says that the group’s interest covers a wide variety of Washington fresh produce.

WEBER: It’s a little bit of everything. A lot of interest in apples, cherries, a little bit of interest in pears. There are a couple of them interested in berries. There’s also some interest in the stone fruits, peaches, donut peaches, and a little bit of interest in nectarines.

The group has also met with potato producers and will visit with other fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers in Wenatchee, Quincy, and Yakima.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.