Another Successful Reverse Trade Mission in the Books

Our annual reverse trade mission with fifteen participants from seven countries concluded their tour of dry bean country last week. The group kicked off their visit in Michigan with visits to the University of Michigan, dry bean farms, and processing plants, before moving on to North Dakota to tour bean harvest and finishing up in Nebraska. The group featured new buyers on their first visit to U.S. bean country as well as loyal buyers who had not been on a USDBC reverse mission for many years. This year included a new feature, allowing U.S. bean growers and dealers to hold one on one meetings with the buyers participating in the mission.

Global Trade Team Participants at one on one business meetings in Michigan
(photo courtesy of Michigan Bean Commission)

The timing of this year’s mission was critical with Congress returning to session to discuss funding levels for several key agricultural programs as well as initial Farm Bill proposals. Additionally, USDBC along with other U.S. agricultural export-oriented groups are facing several trade challenges including the renegotiation of the NAFTA agreement. This was an opportune moment to emphasize and demonstrate first hand, the importance of trade to the U.S. farm economy. USDBC would like to thank all of our guests from around the world for taking the time to see our bean harvest and processing first hand and especially to our growers, dealers, and processors, for hosting our global buyers and showing them a warm bean country welcome. We will begin discussions about our plans for next year’s mission towards the end of this year. Please reach out to us with your comments or suggestions.

Global Trade Team observing harvest in Nebraska
(Photo courtesy of Nebraska Dry Bean Commission)