Alan T. Tracy
President, U.S. Wheat Associates
As President of U.S. Wheat Associates, Alan Tracy directs the organization's global export market development program, striving to increase wheat consumption and U.S. market share for all classes of U.S. wheat in more than 100 countries. Tracy came to U.S. Wheat Associates in 1997, after serving for seven years as the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Before that, from 1986 to 1989, Tracy worked in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Agricultural Trade and Food Assistance. Beginning his distinguished agricultural policy career, he held several positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Inspection Services, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs, and General Sales Manager. Tracy holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University and a master's degree in international business from the University of Wisconsin.
The indelible link between the Japanese people and U.S. wheat producers goes back to 1949.
The indelible link between the Japanese people and U.S. wheat producers began when the Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL) organized a trade delegation to investigate opportunities for expanding U.S. wheat sales to Japan in 1949. A variety of marketing and education activities followed and perhaps the most famous were a school lunch program and “Kitchens on Wheels” traveling through rural Japan to promote wheat foods to Japanese consumers from 1956 to 1960.
Over the decades, Japan has purchased significantly more U.S. wheat than any country in the world, importing on average 3.17 million metric tons (MMT) per year, representing about 60 percent of its total wheat imports. Japan’s U.S. wheat purchases conservatively reach $700 million per year, representing between 10 percent and 15 percent of total U.S. wheat exports. This includes significant amounts of hard red spring (grown in the northern plains), hard red winter (grown in the central and southern plains), and soft white (grown in the Pacific Northwest) to produce bread, noodles, confectionery items, and other commercial products.
Japan has advanced milling and baking industries, supported by a sophisticated purchasing system managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). These industries rely on U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) for the information they need to meet strict quality and safety requirements. USW focuses its activities on helping buyers with detailed quality information, keeping both Japanese government and millers informed on market and policy developments, advising government officials on their policy change proposals, and collaborating in detail on any food safety related concerns.
Together, we have accomplished many tasks in order to maintain a reliable and mutually beneficial supply of U.S. wheat for the Japanese people over many years, and we are confident that our partnership will continue to grow even stronger.
