Day 1 of the NW Co-op Council Meeting
The following post was written by David Enquist from our Moses Lake, Washington office. The original plan was for me to be in Portland yesterday with him, but I ended up in Michigan and then to top it off, the plane out of Detroit was a late plus a strong head-wind meant I missed the flight to Portland, so I got to spend the night in Salt Lake City (with about 3 hours of sleep). I had hoped to post this last night, but did not have time.
I had the pleasure of touring the Wheat Marketing Center and Food Innovation Seminar in Portland, Oregon today as sort of a precursor to the Northwest Joint Co-Op Council Meeting which includes the farmer cooperative councils from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
At the Wheat Marketing Center we first watched them process a “Marie Cookie”, which is popular in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It reminded me of an animal cracker (we taste tested everything!). We then watched the process of making noodles and flat breads while learning how different types of wheat create different end products and how different cultures prefer the differences each variety creates. Most interesting to me was that the Center received no federal or state funding, rather was 100% funded by either endowments or private funding. It was also estimated that representatives from around 70 countries have come to visit the center and learn of the processes and research of the Center. It was reiterated a few times that the Center welcomes individuals and groups for tours, so if you are in the area and have any interest I would recommend stopping.
At the Food Innovation Center tour we learned how they conduct food sensory testing (including testing new produce varieties), help with product development (help the mom and pop shop from the kitchen to commercial production), conduct focus groups, and partner with Oregon State University for other food innovation research products. Some of the more interesting points for me related to using concentrated lasers to etch the outer flesh of fresh produce without taking away from the product itself, which could do away with stickers and/or other packaging materials (think PLU stickers) as well as discussing the possible uses of radio frequency identification (RFID) in the agriculture industry. The RFID technology is mainly used to track inventory but could be used to track temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. of produce from the first moment it is shipped to its final destination for the agriculture industry.
If any readers are attending this event please try and find me and say hi.
David Enquist
Paul Neiffer is a certified public accountant and business advisor specializing in income taxation, accounting services, and succession planning for farmers and agribusiness processors. Paul is a principal with CliftonLarsonAllen in Walla Walla, Washington, as well as a regular speaker at national conferences and contributor at agweb.com. Raised on a farm in central Washington, he has been immersed in the ag industry his entire life, including the last 30 years professionally. Paul and his wife purchase an 180 acre ranch in 2016 and enjoy keeping it full of animals.
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