The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USADPLC), sent a Pakistani delegation to the United States for a two-week trade mission on September 9. The fourteen-member delegation is comprised of Pakistani companies that import crops known as pulses. The trade mission offers participants the opportunity to learn about the U.S. dry pea, bean and lentil sector through meetings with top producers, processors, and exporters. The group will travel to Spokane, WA, Great Falls, MT, Bismarck, ND and Minneapolis, MN, from September 9 – 21, 2018. The delegation will visit production areas and see new pulse varieties, while developing an invaluable network with the U.S. industry. Highlighting the importance of this trade mission and the value to Pakistan’s pulses sector participants, USDA’s Agricultural Counselor Casey Bean said, “Leading this delegation to the Pacific Northwest demonstrates our commitment to showcase high quality U.S. pulses that can assist Pakistan’s industry to meet rising consumer demand.” Following a similar 2016 trade mission, the Pakistani delegation concluded deals worth $3.5 million. Subsequently, the USDA-industry collaborative partnership has led to a record level of $20 million in U.S. pulses exports to Pakistan during CY 2017. Published in Daily Times, September 12th 2018.