A group of end use customers in the pasta and milling process in Latin America now have a better understanding of Canadian Durum from the breeding process to how it’s grown, harvested and handled.

The head of CIGI’s Analytical Services Kristina Pizzi says they were here as part of CIGI’s Latin American Durum Program.
 
"The majority are technical people. They are all quality people from Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba and Venezuela and they all use Canadian Durum in their pasta process," she said.

Marlin Olfert is a technician at the Swift Current facility and says the group was very interested and interactive:

"Maybe it hones our focus, and gives us a little bit more perspective on what's needed and where we need to work on. We can then carry on with what we are doing with a purpose," he said.

The Latin American customers had an opportunity to walk the variety plots and see how Durum Varietal Development has advanced over the years.

Later this week a group from Japan will make a stop in the Southwest.