Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen recently joined USDA on a trade mission to Colombia and led another mission himself to Peru. He says both countries offer a great opportunity for increased trade.

He says he shares USDA Undersecretary’s Ted McKinney’s optimism about how the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia is working and will continue to bear fruit going forward.

Petersen says Minnesota’s growers should be able to supply both Colombia and Peru with a substantial quantity of corn and soybeans and soybean meal.

He says Colombia and Peru also want to buy pork and beef which represent great market opportunities.