Philippine Business Media Get First Hand Look at U.S Wheat Supply Chain

Four members of The Philippines media — which represent the largest newspapers in the country — are currently in the United States learning more about U.S. wheat production and its supply chain. U.S. Wheat Associate Assistant Regional Vice President of South Asia Joe Sowers provides more details
Sowers: “We have a group of media representatives here from the Philippines. They have a very influential voice amongst the population. In the Philippines over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of negative press about flour prices about why the Philippine millers would use the majority of their product from the U.S. We’ve exceeded 90 percent of market share in the country — it is quite good. But when the government or more often the bakers complain about the flour prices being too high they often complain to the press. So we thought we would bring representatives here to see exactly why the U.S. wheat farmer deserves such high market share in the Philippine Islands.”
The group is in the United States for 10 days and I had the pleasure of meeting them on one of their dinner stops. Sowers continues one of their most important stops on their tour while in Portland
Sowers: “Is the greatest attraction and the greatest value that the U.S. marketing system offers is the Federal Grain Inspection Service which guarantees quality to the buyers but also guarantees food safety so that they are assured that the product that they are getting is exactly what buyers wants but is also safe for consumers.”