NAMA NEWS

North American Millers’ Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PUBLICATION OR WEB SITE POSTING

The North American Millers' Association Defends Free Trade with Canada

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 23, 2002 - In a statement before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Foreign Commerce and Tourism the North American Millers' Association (NAMA) defended free trade in wheat between the U.S. and Canada. Speaking on behalf of NAMA, John C. Miller, president, Miller Milling Company stated, " Competitive access to Canadian durum allows us to fulfill our obligation to supply U.S. pasta makers with the quality and quantity of semolina they require to satisfy U.S. consumers and compete with imports."

U.S. millers occasionally buy Canadian wheat for specific milling, baking or pasta-making properties and to supplement the U.S. crop. The durum crop was insufficient to meet demand in 15 out of the last 15 years. The hard red spring wheat crop was insufficient in 12 of the last 15 years. Mr. Miller stated, " U.S. millers buy Canadian durum primarily because the United States does not produce enough durum wheat of the quality our customers, U.S. pasta makers, require. This has been the case since we built our first durum mill in 1986 and it remains the case today."

Mr. Miller continued, " Canadian durum is a necessary supplement to U.S. production of high quality durum, especially in years where adverse weather or farmer crop choices further reduce production of high quality durum."

NAMA applauded the announcement by the United States Trade Representative in February that it will not impose restrictions on wheat entering the United States from Canada.

At the same time, NAMA encourages the Trade Representative to seek more access to the Canadian market for U.S. growers. Free trade in both directions was the admirable goal of NAFTA and the realization of that goal should be a priority.

NAMA has 44 member companies operating 165 wheat, corn, oat and rye mills in 38 states and 150 cities. The aggregate production capacity of NAMA's membership is more than 160 million pounds of product daily, which is about 90% of the total U.S. capacity.

 

Hill Contacts: For a list of NAMA members go to http://www.namamillers.org/a_mbr.html.

For a list of the cities and states where mills are located go to http://www.namamillers.org/a_mill.html.

Media Contacts:

For background information go to http://www.namamillers.org/is_briefs_openborders.html.

For talking points go to http://www.namamillers.org/is_301talkingpoints.html.

For a bio of Mr. Miller go to http://www.namamillers.org/JCM_Resume.doc.

For the full text of Mr. Miller's statement go to http://www.namamillers.org/is_open borders_senate.html.

###

Contact NAMA

North American
Millers’ Association

600 Maryland Ave SW,
Suite 825 West
Washington, DC 20024

TEL: 202.484.2200
FAX: 202.488.7416

EMAIL: generalinfo@namamillers.org

Industry Partners

Protein Grain Products For A Healthier World

The world food and nutrition situation has changed so dramatically in recent years that all nations must now discover new approaches and find better solutions to the problem of providing adequate food for growth, development and health of the world's population. One of the most practical and acceptable ways to deal with this problem is to upgrade the quantity and quality of the cereal proteins.

The protein grain products processed by the member firms of the North American Millers' Association (NAMA) were specially formulated to achieve the highest nutritional quality at the lowest possible cost. Products shipped by these firms must meet rigid U.S. government specifications for quality, uniformity, sanitation, packaging, and inspection.

Designed primarily to combat hunger and malnutrition, protein grain products are used extensively in the U.S. Food for Peace program and also in the major humanitarian and assistance programs carried out under the auspices of the United Nations. In addition to being a major supplier of high quality food products, NAMA members work closely with the U.S. Voluntary Agencies, the office of Food for Peace, the United Nations organizations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in providing various technical support activities.

Basic commodities such as bulgur and corn meal have been used in domestic and overseas-donated food programs for many years. Both are nutritionally similar to whole wheat and corn and are easily prepared into a wide variety of dishes. Their value in the daily diet is unquestioned.

In recent years, industry and government food technologists have achieved a major nutrition breakthrough with the blending of soy flour or soy grits with cereal grain products. Soy flour and soy grits not only increase the level of protein but also contain high level of the amino acids, which are limiting in most cereal grains. As such, it is possible, through blending, to create a protein food with an amino acid profile and utilizable protein content comparable to that of meat and milk. Vitamins and minerals are added to many of these blended foods to provide a convenient and economical source of essential nutrients.

To maximize overseas commercial exposure to protein grain products, the association is works closely with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service on a wide range of market development and expansion programs in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Protein grain products have not only proven successful at the retail level but also show good potential for application in institutional feeding programs. The blended foods are pre-cooked and make excellent weaning foods because of their low cost, high protein quality, and enrichment with vitamins and minerals.

The member firms and Washington staff of the North American Millers' Association are dedicated to the concept of a healthier world through better nutrition and have pledged our entire resources to the research, development, production and export of the highest quality nutrition foods at the lowest possible cost.

Agencies or organizations interested in more information about the protein grain products described in this web site may direct their inquiries to generalinfo@namamillers.org.



Back to Top