Blog post from new blogger: Japan Chronicles, Day One

By Chris Crutchfield

President and CEO -- American Commodity Company

My first impression, as we get ready for take off, is pretty eerie.

Here is a photo of the first class section of my flight to Tokyo. As you can see, it’s me & one other guy. Normally the single American Airlines non-stop between lax and Tokyo daily is jam-packed. My flight attendants say it has been like this since the tragic earthquake and tsunami.

I wonder if business in Tokyo is still interrupted? I'm meeting Bill Farmer of USA Rice Federation over there to work on promotional issues for our campaign in Japan. I'll meet with California rice traders and users who are part of that campaign. We'll get an update from the U.S. embassy as well.

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Chris Crutchfield
President and CEO -- American Commodity Company

Chris Crutchfield is very proud to represent the third generation of his family to be involved in the rice industry. Currently Chris is involved in all aspects of California rice from production all the way to the grocery store shelf.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1996, Chris moved back to California and joined with his father Paul Crutchfield in the formation of a rough rice pool for direct marketing to Turkey. Chris was responsible for the day-to-day management of the pool. That partnership developed into the formation of American Commodity Company (ACC) in 2000, and Chris assumed all direct management responsibilities for ACC.

Prior to establishing himself in the California rice industry, Chris worked in the press offices of Governor Pete Wilson as his Assistant Press Secretary. He also briefly taught secondary education in the California public school system.