Segment Swap Program Educates Cotton Board Producers About Importer Decisions

The Cotton Board’s producer members – representing U.S. upland cotton growers – recently participated in an industry “Segment Swap” program intended to provide a greater understanding of cotton’s supply chain through an inside look at how cotton importers make their sourcing decisions.

Elizabeth King, vice president of importer relations The Cotton Board, said, “Whether it is in cotton fields or cotton fashions, our Board represents the major forces driving cotton’s global supply chain. We have programs like the segment swap in place to make sure we’re keeping our board fully informed and educated about the industry.”

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Producer attendees were David Grant, current Cotton Board Chairman and producer from North Carolina; Adam Hatley and Kevin Rogers, Arizona; Kim Mayberry-Holifield, Missouri; Mark Nichols, Oklahoma; and Bryan Patterson and Sigi Valverde, Texas.

This year’s segment swap was hosted by Levi Strauss & Company and Gap, Inc. in San Francisco, CA.

The group’s visit to Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters included tours of the Levi’s denim archive and the company’s innovation lab, plus discussions with Michael Kobori, Levi’s vice president of global sustainability for Levi’s, and Joe Don Long, Levi’s director of technical services and an importer serving on The Cotton Board.

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At the Gap, Inc. headquarters – which manages retail brands Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Piperlime and Intermix – the group met with senior staff for a review of the company’s history, social responsibility program, global supply chain and design initiatives. Sally Gilligan, Gap’s vice president of supply chain strategy and sourcing and an importer member of The Cotton Board, also shared some of the challenges impacting the company from the cotton price spike in 2011.

The Cotton Board’s importer members will visit a cotton farm, gin and a USDA classing office during a similar segment swap this fall.

 

Source – The Cotton Board

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