TradeScope recruited 6 European buyers to visit Colorado and Montana producers of specialty grains and beans in December 2014.
In May 2015, one of those buyers travelled to Washington State with one of their largest European customers, to visit a producer they'd met in Montana. On this visit, they closed a deal for 1000 tons of peas and lentils valued at $1 million.
The European buyer summed up the value of a buyer mission: "It is all about seeing the plant, understanding the process quality, and knowing what certifications the plant has. That gives us confidence to take the next step."