USMEF Explores Market Potential in Morocco During USDA Trade Mission

Risk mitigation and an underdeveloped supply-chain are among the market development challenges in this vital distribution hub for western Africa.

USMEF was among the 50 ag companies and organizations that recently visited Morocco during a trade mission hosted by USDA. Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley led the delegation, which participated in business-to-business meetings, met with Moroccan government officials, studied transportation logistics and visited retail and foodservice outlets in Casablanca. USMEF Africa Representatives Matt Copeland and Monty Brown, and USMEF Director of Trade Analysis Jessica Spreitzer... 

USMEF: Training Program Aims to Grow U.S. Beef and Pork’s Presence in Indonesia

The ASEAN American Epicurean Table program delivers customized training and promotional programs for targeted importers and their customers.

A new promotional program is expanding in Indonesia that helps importer partners grow their businesses by training their customers how to be more profitable with U.S. beef and pork. ASEAN American Epicurean Table (AAET) was rolled out recently through eight day-long training sessions in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali over several weeks. Nearly 250 participants included representatives from three targeted importers and their customers, who represented...

USMEF Partners with Sam’s Club on U.S. Beef Training and Promotion in China

U.S. beef played a prominent role in the recent grand opening of Sam’s Club’s 50th retail outlet in China. In addition to sampling and promotions during grand opening events, U.S. beef was featured the previous day at a special promotional event. To publicize the freshness of chilled U.S. beef available at the store, USMEF livestreamed the fabrication of a chilled U.S. beef carcass (see section at page bottom)...

Culinary Training Programs for U.S. Beef and Pork Continue at Caribbean Event

USMEF led a team of 16 culinary school instructors and training “ambassadors” from the Caribbean region to Miami last month to participate in training sessions and attend the Taste of the Caribbean and the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF). Taste of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual culinary showcase of top young chefs, provides a forum for food and beverage professionals to gather practical information, develop skills, sample and purchase products, and strengthen supplier relationships while meeting new vendors...

ASEAN Customers Study U.S. Pork and Beef in Trend-Setting Korea

To expand the range of U.S. pork and beef cuts in the ASEAN, USMEF led retail and foodservice teams to Korea to study how U.S. red meat is utilized.

Characterized by the growth of single-person households and growing demand for quality and convenience, the Korean food industry has invested heavily in new product development and has become an innovator in its uses of U.S. pork and beef. USMEF recently brought teams of retail and foodservice customers from the ASEAN region to Korea to study new products...

USMEF Conference Opens with Election Analysis and Focus on U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) launched its annual strategic planning conference in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday with an analysis of the U.S. election’s potential impact on agricultural policy and international trade. USMEF members also received an in-depth look at the new administration in Mexico, as the United States prepares for a critical phase of trade relations with the largest export destination for U.S. red meat.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom opened the conference with an overview of U.S. red...

USMEF to Honor Nick Giordano, Mark Jagels at Upcoming Conference

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) announced the 2024 recipients of its two most prestigious awards, who will be honored Nov. 7 at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Tucson, Ariz.

Nick Giordano, the former lead lobbyist for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) will receive the Michael J. Mansfield Award. USMEF established this award in recognition of the U.S. Senate majority leader and ambassador to Japan whose five decades of government service advanced U.S. trade relations throughout the world.

Mark Jagels, a fourth-generation farmer...

USMEF Statement on East and Gulf Coast Port Announcement

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have released a joint statement announcing an end – at least temporarily – to the work stoppage that shut down East and Gulf Coast ports earlier this week.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

On behalf of USMEF’s member companies and organizations, I want to thank all parties involved in the effort to get cargo moving again off the East and Gulf Coasts. This is a tremendous relief to everyone...

USMEF Statement on Colombia Fully Reopening to U.S. Beef

With the Colombian government recently lifting its ban on U.S. beef originating from states in which H5N1 was detected in dairy cows, the Export Library for Colombia has been updated to reflect restored access for beef from 14 states.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

On behalf of USMEF’s membership, I want to thank the U.S. government, and especially the teams at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Food Safety and Inspection...

USMEF Chair Sees Potential for U.S. Red Meat in Indonesia

USMEF Chair Randy Spronk joined a team of representatives from the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) to meet with prospective buyers and study market opportunities for U.S. soybeans and red meat in Indonesia. USMEF member ISA, which has developed strong trade relationships providing soy protein in Indonesia, coordinated with USMEF staff on the day-long event.

USMEF ASEAN Director Sabrina Yin and Indonesia Representative Arrofi Satrio Alam set up a meet-and-greet for the ISA group with Indonesian meat importers and presented a...

New Partnership Launched to Broaden Availability of U.S. Pork in Chile

Industry efforts to grow the presence of U.S. pork in Chile took a step forward this summer with the launch of a partnership between U.S. pork producer Wholestone Prestage and U.S. supplier Andes Global. USMEF hosted a launch event in Santiago to announce the partnership and introduce new U.S. pork cuts to retailers and distributor clients of Andes Global.

In preparation for the launch, USMEF worked with Andes Global to identify U.S. pork cuts with demand potential in Chile. Seven cuts were selected and then shipped to... 

May Beef Export Value Highest in 11 Months; Pork Exports Below Year-Ago

The value of U.S. beef exports topped $900 million in May, the highest since June 2023, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. Pork exports posted another solid performance in May, but were below last year in both volume and value.

May beef exports totaled 110,133 metric tons (mt), down 5% from a year ago but the second largest of 2024. Beef export value reached $902.4 million in May, 3% above last year and the highest in 11 months. For January through...

Training Program Underway in Colombia to Boost U.S. Red Meat Sales in Foodservice

The four-city, six-month-long training program, which addresses operational and marketing issues, will help restaurants become more profitable with U.S. pork, beef.

Decision-makers in Colombia’s foodservice sector turned out last month for the third phase of a comprehensive training program for U.S. pork and beef that took place on consecutive days in Medellin, Bogota, Cartagena and Cali. For the four cities, 135 participants from 65 companies with 694 points-of-sale participated in the training sessions, which focused on butchery analysis and technical specifications...

April Pork Exports Largest in Nearly Three Years; Beef Exports Also Trend Higher

April exports of U.S. pork reached the highest volume and value since May 2021, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. It was also a robust month for U.S. beef exports, which were the largest in 10 months and valued at just under $900 million.

Fueled by a record performance in leading market Mexico, pork exports totaled 277,910 metric tons (mt) in April, up 14% from a year ago and the fifth largest on record. Export value climbed 18% to $778.8 million

USMEF Statement on Regional Agricultural Promotion Program Funding Allocations

On May 21, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced funding allocations for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), which utilizes Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to diversify export markets for U.S. agricultural products.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

USMEF is honored to participate in RAPP and we thank Secretary Vilsack and the staff at USDA for their vision and leadership in implementing this program. The additional investment in foreign market development is very timely...

Rapid Start for 2024 Pork Exports; Beef Export Value Above Year-Ago

U.S. pork exports raced to a great start in 2024, according to January data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. While January beef exports were slightly below last year’s volume, export value trended significantly higher. Lamb exports were also strong in January, posting the highest value in more than four years.

Although January pork exports were led by another powerful performance in leading market Mexico, U.S. pork continued to make gains in a wide range of Western Hemisphere and Asia-Pacific destinations...

New Industry Resource Captures Culinary Evolution of the Caribbean

Developed in collaboration with local food scholars and regional chefs, the textbook is a go-to resource for educators and foodservice professionals

Honoring island traditions and promoting regional variations of local dishes are at the heart of a new USMEF marketing program to incorporate U.S. beef and pork into culinary communities throughout the Caribbean islands.

“The culinary histories of the islands are fascinating and ever-evolving,” says USMEF Caribbean Representative Elizabeth Wunderlich. “But there are no resources available that capture the multi-cultural influences...