Oregon Ag Exports

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

Based on inspection and certification provided by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Asia is still the state’s main export destination. Hong Kong, Mexico, and Japan are the three top export markets for Oregon agricultural commodities, followed by South Korea, China, and Canada. Those rankings are based on the activity of inspectors with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, who certify these commodities are pest and disease free.

CRAMER:  Exports are absolutely critical for Oregon agriculture. It’s not secret that the Asian market, because of our locale, is paramount in our exports– it’s not exclusive by any means, but a major market place for us.

Jim Cramer, director of ODA’s Market Access and Certification programs, says based on the phytosanitary certificates issued by the department, Oregon’s top export commodity is grass seed, followed by hazelnuts, then grass straw and hay.

CRAMER:  The market was created some 25, 30 years ago where some of these developing countries don’t have the land mass to create their own forage, it was very innovative to market something of low value like straw.

Other top commodities based on ODA activity include pears, cherries, and Christmas trees for a value exceeding about 270 million dollars.

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