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NDTO News Article

ND Hosts China Reverse Trade Mission with Eye on Long Term Business

North Dakota companies along with the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO) hosted  a delegation of Chinese food buyers, researchers and government officials as part of the North Dakota-China Reverse Trade Mission, Oct. 21-26, 2013.

The initiative was the second of a two-part reverse trade mission in which Chinese delegates toured North Dakota companies and organizations and meet with local business and government leaders.  The October delegation focused on the soybean industry, while a separate delegation with interest in wheat, barley, oats, peas, flax, beans and sunflowers visited North Dakota in September.

“The Northern Food Grade Soybean Association members recognize how vastly important the China market is and what it soon may represent, not only to exports of food grade soybeans from this region but also to our producers,” said Todd Sinner, Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA) member and vice president of SB&B Foods Inc.  “Through multiple years of hard work, we feel the foundation is in place to deliver when the opportunity presents itself. We expect consistent and ongoing trade to begin in the next one to three years.”

The reverse trade missions are part of an ongoing effort to promote North Dakota’s high-quality agricultural commodities and food products throughout China.  NDTO has led three outgoing trade missions to China since 2009 with a fourth mission planned in March 2014.

“China’s growing middle class and appetite for higher quality foods are reflected in its growing demand for the types of commodities we produce in North Dakota,” said Dean Gorder, executive director of the North Dakota Trade Office.  “By continuing to bring North Dakota companies, government leaders and educators to China and hosting Chinese leaders in our state, we are positioned for long term business in the market.  Sales have already been made by many North Dakota companies, and we will continue to grow North Dakota’s presence in China.”

North Dakota companies and organizations that participated in the October reverse trade mission included:

  • Dakota Pride Co-op, Jamestown, ND
  • Richland IFC, Inc., Wahpeton, ND
  • SB&B Foods Inc., Casselton, ND
  • SK Food, Fargo, ND
  • Soyko, Inc., Gary, MN
  • Sun Opta, Moorhead, MN
  • Unity Seed, Casselton, ND

Among the organizations assisting in the development of this event were the North Dakota Soybean Council and the Northern Crops Institute (NCI).