Production
Production
California wheat growers produce an average of 1.1 million tons of winter wheat and 250,000 tons of Desert Durum® wheat. California is unique in that five classes of wheat are produced: Hard Red Winter, Hard White, Durum, and small quantities of Soft White wheat and Hard Red Spring wheat. Wheat is produced in more than 35 counties in California.
Wheat grown in the southwestern United States (California and Arizona) has characteristics that differentiate it from wheat produced elsewhere in the United States. California wheat is low in moisture and high in kernel weight and kernel size. These characteristics are positive attributes in the milling industry.
With new varieties of both California Hard Red winter and Desert Durum® now produced, California is building a reputation as a quality wheat supplier.
Export Market
California exports up to 300,000 metric tons of wheat annually. Destinations for California wheat include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, and Peru. In the early 1980’s, China was the major importer of California wheat, but due to quality and quarantine issues California exports to China stopped. In 1995, China resumed purchases of California wheat, with a test cargo of 30,000 metric tons of identity preserved "Express" Hard Red Winter wheat. Due to outstanding issues with the U.S., the efforts to open China have been halted.
Hard Red Winter wheat exported through California ports is produced in California. Much of the exported wheat is produced and shipped by truck from within a 200 mile radius to either the Port of Sacramento or the Port of Stockton. Wheat that is railed into California is purchased by domestic mills or feedlots. Presently, there is no incentive to rail wheat into California for export purposes.
Desert Durum® wheat is exported identity preserved through U.S. Gulf ports, with California ports an option, depending on rail rates. The name "Desert Durum®" has been registered with the U.S. patent office and owned by the California Wheat Commission and the Arizona Grains Research and Promotion Council.
Domestic Market
California’s domestic wheat flour milling capacity is the second largest in the United States at 121,100 cwts per day. Because California does not produce the quantities and diversity of quality characteristics needed, wheat is railed in from other states.
Annually, California poultry and cattle businesses buy 70% of their feed grain needs--7.3 million tons--from outside of California. Wheat partially fulfills this need dependent on the price of competitive grains.