60 Years of Trust: Celebrating U.S Wheat Producers' Relationship with Taiwan

Taiwan isn’t just a customer; they are a Top 5 buyer of U.S. Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat, purchasing an average of 21.5 million bushels of HRS each year.  In addition, Taiwan also buys large amounts of HRW and White wheat and some SRW.

Recently, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Taipei office, a milestone that highlights one of our most consistent and high-value trade partnerships. Representing the backbone of this relationship at the celebration was North Dakota’s own Jim Pellman, a wheat farmer and current USW Chairman, along with North Dakota Wheat Commission Executive Director Jim Peterson. 

As USW Chairman, Pellman provided comments to Taiwanese customers in acknowledgment of the decade’s long relationship.  “I value the opportunity to meet with our customers and see the incredible products made with the wheat we have grown with care,” he said. “Farming is not an easy profession, but it teaches hard work, patience, preparation, and persistence,” Pellman told a crowd of over 100 Taiwanese millers and bakers. “I am proud that my sons own their own land and farm alongside me.”

Yi-I Huang, USW’s country director in Taiwan, served as moderator of the celebration. Huang also presented awards and offered thoughts on the magical 60-year milestone.

“We must work to preserve what has been built for us, do what we can to make it even better,” Huang said. “We are grateful for our partners in the Taiwan food and milling businesses. We are also grateful for the U.S. wheat farmers who attended the anniversary, and those back in the U.S. preparing to harvest or plant their crops. It’s the most important part of the U.S. wheat supply chain.”