Market Diversification Stressed at USMEF Virtual Conference

The importance of market diversification for U.S. red meat exports was a key point of emphasis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference, which was held in a virtual format May 26-27.

USMEF Chair Pat Binger, who heads international sales for Cargill Protein North America, addressed this topic in his opening remarks to USMEF members. Binger noted that in recent years USMEF added staff and resources in regions such as Central and South America and Southeast Asia, and this forward-looking approach is paying important dividends for the U.S. industry. Looking to capitalize on emerging opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, USMEF also added its first Africa-based representative in 2019. To date, most of the increased volume to Africa has been beef variety meat, but USMEF also sees strong potential for beef and pork muscle cuts and pork variety meat. More details from the USMEF Spring Conference are available in this press release.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.