Posted March 29, 2010
Several members of the Iowa Pork Producers Association are among a group of nearly 30 Iowans who have embarked on a two-week trade mission to South Korea and Japan.
The purpose of the trip, organized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development, is to promote continued trade with two of the largest export markets for Iowa agricultural products. The group will meet with U.S. and Asian trade officials, meat processors and retail outlets in Seoul and Tokyo.
IPPA President John Weber, President-elect Leon Sheets, Vice President of Resources Bill Tentinger, Past-president John Vossberg and IPPA Executive Director Rich Degner are all part of the mission to promote pork.
Japan is the leading destination for Iowa pork and South Korea trails only Canada and Mexico in the amount of fresh, chilled and frozen pork imported from the state.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey also is taking part in the mission.
“Japan and South Korea are key markets for our agricultural products and this trip is a great opportunity to continue to strengthen our trade relationship,” Northey said. “You must build trust and doing it face-to-face is key, especially when you are dealing with food and with the needs of consumers in another country. It’s more than financial transactions.”
Also participating in the trade mission are officials from the Iowa corn, soybean and beef producers associations and the Iowa Farm Bureau.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will join the group in Japan during the mission.
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