The 2022 Export Exchange welcomed hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and co-products to Minneapolis Wednesday evening for a reception prior to the official kickoff of the event Thursday.
“It’s looking great,” said Chad Willis, a farmer from Minnesota and past chair of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC). “After COVID, everybody wanted to get out and be in person again so our attendance is phenomenal.”
It was 2018 when the Export Exchange was last held and being a biennial event, missing 2020 due to the pandemic means four years have gone by since international buyers have been able to visit and meeting grain suppliers face to face. “What I’ve noticed is how important it is for these countries to know where their grain comes from,” said Willis. “A lot of buyers from overseas have been here the last few days and some will be staying on and going on tours of farms, ethanol plants, elevators, ports.”
Listen to an interview with Willis here.
Export Exchange interview with Chad Willis, MN farmer 3:16