HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana officials say Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney is in Mexico this week leading a trade delegation to promote barley exports.
Cooney said in a statement that Mexico is the largest importer of malt barley and that it’s important to the state’s agricultural industry to reaffirm and build that relationship.
U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show Montana is among the top three barley-producing states. Gov. Steve Bullock’s office says the U.S. sold Mexico $242 million worth of malt grown from barley last year.
Cooney is traveling with Montana Department of Agriculture Director Ben Thomas and two leaders of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.
They were meeting with officials from Mexican companies, with the Mexican Craft Brewers Association and attending the Cerveza Mexico Expo.
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