DoorDash Expands To Japan

DoorDash the largest on-demand logistics platform for door-to-door delivery in the U.S., announced its official launch in Japan, beginning with Sendai. This marks the company's first market expansion in Asia and third country outside the U.S., including Australia and Canada.

As DoorDash continues to invest in international growth in its commitment to empower local economies, Japan, one of the most restaurant-dense countries in the world, offers a unique market opportunity for the company to support local businesses with...

ANALYSIS: Update on German Pork Exports in Wake of ASF Outbreak

African Swine Fever case counts in Germany have exceeded 200, according to some sources. Since finding the first case of ASF on...

ANALYSIS: How Bone-In Hams Perform Prior to Christmas

Hams, whether bone-in or boneless, take the limelight across domestic and export markets during the fourth quarter of the year as buyers...

China and Japan Suspend Pork Imports from Germany Following African Swine Fever Case 

According to the German Food and Agriculture Ministry, China and Japan have suspended imports of pork and live pigs from Germany after a case of African swine fever was confirmed in a wild boar near the Polish border in the eastern state of Brandenburg, Germany. This comes as South Korea banned imports of German pork last week.

Pork imports of 40,230 tons from Germany last year accounted for about 3.3% of Japan's total imports of pork, the ministry reported. Japan did not import any live pigs last year, down from six in 2018. China's ban on imports comes as the country deals with its own spread of the disease. German pork exports to China total about...

Japan Begins to Explore Regulations for Alternative Meat Products

To stimulate the use of non-traditional protein sources in the Japanese diet, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries established a public-private partnership to develop regulations for insect-based and plant-based foods derived through innovative technologies. In the last year alone, a number of large Japanese food companies have announced plans to develop plant-based “alternative meat” products.

On April 17, 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) established the “Food Tech Study Group” to utilize new technologies and diversify protein sources in the Japanese diet. The group consists of...

U.S., Japan Expand Organic Trade Opportunities; Livestock Added to Trade Arrangement

The United States and Japan announced the expansion of their organic equivalence arrangement to include livestock products. The arrangement goes into effect July 16, 2020 and reduces costs and streamlines the process for anyone involved in the organic livestock supply chain by requiring only one organic certification.

“Opening new markets for America’s organic farmers and ranchers continues to be a priority for USDA,” said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Greg Ibach. “Japan is already one of the top export markets for U.S. organic products. This agreement opens additional opportunities for everyone involved in the international supply chain for...