Eleven U.S. farmers learned firsthand about their customers’ perspectives in China and the Philippines during the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Grain Export Mission (GEM) last month.

The participants returned from this mission with a clearer understanding of the challenges, opportunities and competition U.S. grains face in the international marketplace.

“The GEM is important because it gives U.S. producers the opportunity to learn what the Council does and the markets we work in,� said USGC Director in China Bryan Lohmar. “China is a very complex market that is difficult to understand without seeing it.�

The producers traveling on the GEM were able to both gain insights and offer their perspectives on U.S. farming conditions and technology, which  helps them and the Council build relationships that will benefit the grains industry in years to come.

“It is important to talk with end-users of our products and see how they are using our grains and how the quality of our grain is being perceived,� said Jerry Demmer, a representative of the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council. “During the GEM, we let our customers know that we are very appreciative of them buying our product, with the hope that we can export more product to them in the future.�

More about the GEM was available in a previous edition of Global Update, which is available here.

You may also click here to view photos of the mission.