N.D. companies in food trade

The North Dakota Mill and Dakota Pride Cooperative are among nine Midwestern companies participating in the Food Export Midwest Trade Mission to China Feb 15-19.

“This is an important opportunity for these companies to expand their presence in what is becoming one of the world’s most important food markets,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who led a trade mission to China in 2008, as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. “North Dakota offers both the quality and quantity of food commodities wanted in China.”

The trade mission will meet with buyers and government officials in Shanghai, Dalian and Beijing. The agenda also includes supermarket tours and chef demonstrations to show prospective buyers how U.S. products are used in prepared dishes.

The North Dakota Mill, the nation’s only state-owned food processing company, will be represented by Vance Taylor, general manager. Leland “Judge” Barth, executive director of Dakota Pride Cooperative, will represent the Jamestown-based group, whose members are farmers producing organically certified and identify-preserved wheat, soybeans, barley, oats, peas, flax, canola and durum.

Stephanie Sinner, a marketing specialist with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, will help lead the group.

The Food Export Association of the Midwest USA is a private, nonprofit association that offers services to help U.S. companies promote midwestern food and agricultural products in foreign markets. To carry out this mission, Food Export Midwest works in conjunction with its 12-member state agricultural promotion agencies, including the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Tags: north dakota, food, export, news