January 15
Launch of the "Partners in Agriculture" Website
I am pleased to announce the launch of the Partners in Agriculture website http://www.partners-in-agriculture.org. The site's contents are tailored to accompany the events and spirit of the Partners in Agriculture celebration to take place in Japan, beginning in March 2010. The Partners in Agriculture website is made possible through the work of the American Embassy's Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Japan, the U.S. food industry, the State of Iowa, and the Prefecture of Yamanashi.
The site is designed to showcase three key partnerships: the successful public-private partnership between the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) and U.S. cooperators; the special agricultural relationship between the United States and Japan; and the long standing friendship between Iowa and Yamanashi symbolized by the 50th anniversary of the Iowa-Yamanashi Sister State relationship.
Since the mid-1950s, U.S. commodity organizations have been actively supporting U.S. exporters and providing services to valued Japanese importers. For example, the U.S. Grains Council is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010. The Council opened up its first overseas office in Tokyo in 1961. Today, 50 U.S. commodity organizations are active in this market. In the Success Stories Section visitors can learn first-hand from U.S. cooperators about their experiences in the Japanese market.
Geared to American viewers, the English portion of the site is tailored to recognize the importance of the Japanese market for U.S. agriculture and the success of the U.S. cooperator program in this market. It also announces the series of Partners-in-Agriculture events and Yamanashi-related activities that will provide a national platform for the promotion of U.S. agricultural products in Japan. In the coming weeks, we will add a Japanese language section to reach Japanese consumers.
I invite you to visit the site and join us in celebrating over 50 years of Cooperation.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Wiggin
Agriculture Minister Counselor
Agricultural Affairs Office
U.S. Embassy, Japan