Wool Roundtable Forms, Elects Chair

Nov. 14, 2003 -- The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is taking on an exciting new endeavor ? the formation of a Wool Industry Roundtable.

The purpose of the Roundtable is to bring together a diverse group of representatives from various segments of the wool industry, who will provide insight and direction for the advancement of the U.S. wool industry in areas such as quality, wool descriptions and trade issues, and provide input for research priorities as well.

In a teleconference last week, members elected Mike Corn from Roswell Wool Warehouse as Roundtable chair and Dan Gutzman from Pendleton Woolen Mills as Roundtable vice chair. Other segments of the industry represented on this panel include growers, research facilities, universities, warehousemen, wool processors/textile industry, top makers and an ASI executive board member.

One of the immediate concerns to be discussed is the abundance of polypropylene in U.S. wool. Since this type of contamination is usually not detected until the final phases of fabric dyeing and finishing, it has a negative impact on all aspects of the industry as well as that of international marketing.

?The Wool Industry Roundtable will be meeting in January during the ASI Annual Convention in Sacramento,? stated ASI Wool Council Chair Glen Fisher. ?I would encourage anyone interested in the future of the industry and the issues currently facing wool to make arrangements to attend the session.?

Staff contact: Rita Kourlis Samuelson, ext. 29

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