Photo credit: U.S. Wheat Associates.
A team of representatives from Japanese wheat buyer Nisshin visited the Pacific Northwest in mid-August to learn about the 2026 U.S. wheat crop and gain firsthand insight into the supply chain that moves wheat from farms to overseas customers.
U.S. Wheat Associates organized the annual Nisshin Crop Quality Survey Team visit with support from the Washington Grain Commission and Oregon Wheat Commission. The team included professionals with experience in quality control, baking, cereal science and milling, providing a range of technical perspectives during the visit.
The mission focused on giving the team a firsthand look at the 2026 wheat crop and the people, facilities and systems involved in moving wheat from farm to market.
During several days in Washington, the team visited farms and met with growers and elevator representatives. The group also visited the USDA Agricultural Research Service Western Wheat Quality Laboratory in Pullman, where members learned about wheat quality testing and research.
The Washington portion of the visit provided insight into harvest conditions and the inland transportation and handling systems used across key Pacific Northwest wheat-growing areas.
The team then traveled to Portland, Oregon, where the trade mission concluded with briefings from the Wheat Marketing Center and U.S. Wheat. The sessions provided market and technical information.
The team also visited an export terminal and the Overseas Merchandise Inspection Company, where members learned about export logistics and inspection systems used to ensure wheat is inspected and loaded according to contract specifications.
For Japanese millers and food companies, consistency is a critical consideration when sourcing wheat. Visiting each stage of the supply chain provides customers with a closer understanding of the product and the people and systems supporting its quality.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the U.S. wheat industry to better understand customer needs and strengthen relationships among farmers, researchers, exporters and technical experts.
Customer visits such as the Nisshin survey help build familiarity with the U.S. wheat supply chain while reinforcing connections between U.S. suppliers and overseas customers. Those relationships support confidence in U.S. wheat and help maintain strong international markets.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates, "Japanese Customers Take Firsthand Look at U.S. Wheat Quality"