TOKYO, JAPAN — Representatives from four Hoosier lumber companies - Pike Lumber Co., Cole Hardwood, Wooley Lumber and Frank Miller Lumber Co. - were on hand when Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels unveiled the Premium Indiana Forest Products logo to Asia at the Gallery Mori no Kotoba, a furniture market in Tokyo.

Also present was Ray Moistner, Indiana Hardwood Lumber Assoc. director. The logo identifies products made from Indiana hardwoods and is a global marketing campaign to promote use of the state’s forest products.

“Indiana’s hardwoods and forest products are of the best quality you will find anywhere in the world,” Daniels said. “This logo lets the Asian market know how they can identify Indiana hardwood products.”

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, after identifying hardwoods as a key agricultural economic strategy, plans to increase the state’s competitiveness in the hardwood sector through technology advancements and consumer awareness. This includes marketing Hoosier forestry products to the overseas market.

Statistically, Indiana has 4.3 million acres of premium hardwood forests and its forest-based businesses are the fourth largest manufacturing sector, employing 47,000 Hoosiers.

Hailing the logo as straightforward, strong, honest and innovative, Indiana Ag Director Andy Miller said, “You simply will not find better materials, better craftsmanship or better people to work with than the ones who represent the Indiana forest products industry.”

For the two representatives from Pike Lumber Co., the trip was an opportunity to visit already established customers and to tour their plants where they saw PLC lumber being used in guitars, millwork and high-quality furniture.