Press Releases 2005

U.S. Embassy Announces Hardwood Conference  

KINGSTON, June 10, 2005

The Commercial Office of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston today announced a seminar by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major hardwood product trade associations in the U.S.  The free seminar, “U.S. Hardwood Lumber Grading and Things You Need to Know When Buying U.S. Hardwoods,” will take place at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday, June 28th.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
 
Mr. Luis Zertuche, AHEC Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, will open the conference with an outline on U.S. hardwood resources and growing regions.  Mr. Mark Barford, the guest speaker for AHEC, will talk about the wood species available, the buying and selling of lumber, and will explain the rules within the industry.  He will also provide an overview of the hardwood lumber grading system and grades applied to exports.
 
Mr. Ramón Echenique, a representative from American Softwoods, will talk about the use of graded southern yellow pine for the construction of permanent structures and will cover the southern pine forest resources of the U.S., properties and characteristics of southern pine lumber grades, and pressure treatment with preservatives.
 
Persons involved in the construction industry are encouraged to attend this seminar to learn more about the variety, versatility and sustainability of the U.S. hardwood resource, to find a hardwood supplier, and to learn how AHEC can benefit businesses. AHEC represents the full range of U.S. hardwood products including: lumber, veneer, plywood, flooring, molding, and dimension materials.  The council is a special project of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and an agricultural cooperator with the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 
For further information and registration, please contact the Office of Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Embassy by telephone 920-2827 or fax 920-2580.