The U.S. Grains Council, the leading U.S. organization for the market development of barley, corn, sorghum and their co-products, helped foster the sale of 200 metric tons (9,186 bushels) of U.S. high beta glucan hull-less barley (BG 012) to Taiwan. The McKay Seed Co. put the final touches on its contract with Tai-I and Taisun, Taiwanese importers, earlier this week. “The Council met with the Taiwan Barley Products Industry Association several times where we successfully introduced and convinced them to become interested in food barley,â€� said former USGC Senior Advisor in Taiwan CM Lynn. “The Council worked with McKay to get samples to Tai-I, who tested and then used the samples to make 20-30 different food products for display at a local food trade show and seminars. End-users were impressed with the high quality products and wanted more.â€� McKay Seed Co. Manager Dan McKay said he heard of the interest in Taiwan during a business trip to Japan last winter. “McKay heard of the interest in Taiwan and sent two sample containers (each holding 20 metric tons or 919 bushels) of the 2008 crop in July. With that and the help of CM and the Council, we were finally able to put this sale together,â€� said McKay. The recently tendered U.S. barley will ship sometime in late January or early February. “We plan on making a trip in late February to determine if there is potential for the new 2010 crop so we may plant accordingly,â€� he said.