For
more information, contact
Abbie Granger, 209-946-0246
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stockton,
CA, August 7, 2002 – The Port of Stockton and the Connell Rice and Sugar Company greeted the
Ambassador to Uzbekistan and his First Secretary to the Port of Stockton today.
The Ambassador, Mr. Shavkat S. Khamrakulov, was here to see first-hand
the rice, location and operations for one of the largest shipments out of the
U.S. West Coast of bagged rice in recent history.
“The
Port has formed a solid partnership with the Connell Rice and Sugar Company and
we are pleased to be their choice in delivering this rice to Uzbekistan as part
of a vital government food program,” said Richard Aschieris, Port Director of
the Port of Stockton. The 44,000
metric tons is part of a Federal Government Title I food program to provide
financing and enable certain countries to purchase U.S. commodities.
Over the last several years the Port has been working closely with the
Connell Company for rice deliveries for this program and for the Japanese
Minimum Access Business.
The Connell Rice & Sugar Company supplies rice to the Port of Stockton after processing and packing at several California rice mills. The cargo will be loaded onto the M/V Liberty Wave, a U.S. Flag vessel, with the final destination being Uzbekistan. “This shipment is important to the people of Uzbekistan and we are very pleased to be able to have Ambassador Khamrakulov view, first hand, the quality of the product and the care with which it is being handled,” said John Valpey of the Connell Rice & Sugar Company.
The
Port of Stockton is the premier inland port for the State of California and the
Central Valley. Many bulk product
firms, retailers and agricultural interests depend upon this port for export,
import, distribution and warehousing. The
Port is uniquely adjacent to major freeways (Interstate 5 and Highway 99) and
south of Interstate 80. The Port is
conveniently located for the nation’s agricultural frontrunner, the California
Central Valley.
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