USIP Alliance grows specialty grains connections

Working to connect further in the specialty grains space, USIP Alliance Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick participated in Northern Crops Institute’s (NCI) Growing Value Week, Nov. 3-6 in Fargo, N.D. 

The week included a two-day Forward Contracting for Specialty Crops seminar, a Value-Added Summit and a Specialty Grains Conference, all of which took place during NCI’s annual Stone Milling Experience. 

The week was designed to bring together producers, processors, buyers, entrepreneurs and industry partners for a week of knowledge exchange and learning, collaboration and value creation and other new opportunities in agriculture. 

Frederick presented on the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program and other certified verifications during the Specialty Grains Conference, which focused on growing opportunities and for ancient, heritage and other specialty grains. 

Frederick highlighted how the Identity Preserved United States logo stands for quality, as well as a U.S.-origin statement based on third-party process verification. While the logo has gained traction among IP soybean processors, exporters and food manufacturers, Frederick highlighted how it’s being used in promotion of IP buckwheat, with one South Korean company putting the logo on retail products and passing the logo on to restaurants who use flour from U.S.-origin buckwheat to make noodles. 

Other verifications discussed included Non-GMO Verified and the Whole Grains Stamp, thanks to assistance from the Non-GMO Project and Whole Grains Council. Both Non-GMO Project (a USIP Alliance member) and Whole Grains Council have been invited to speak at the U.S. Identity Preserved International Summit in February in Tokyo. 

Several USIP Alliance members also participated in NCI’s week of activities, including Craig Tomera of Grain Millers, Scott Sinner of SB&B Foods, Curt Petrich of HC International and Jiwon Kim of North Dakota Trade Office. NCI is also a USIP Alliance member and valued partner.