Jamaican Seminars, Fundraiser Showcase High-Quality U.S. Meats

USMEF assisted in coordinating a multi-cooperator, foodservice promotion event last week at the Rose Hall Resort (Hilton) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Five U.S. suppliers participated in the event, including two USMEF member companies that attended: Buckhead Beef and Certified Angus Beef.  In addition, USMEF member Sysco International provided Snake River Farms Kobe products.

About 200 people attended Wednesday’s main event, including 65 culinary students from the region’s major culinary schools. The opening and welcome was presented by Ms. Jamie Rothschild, regional agricultural attaché for Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Elizabeth Wunderlich, USMEF’s Caribbean representative, conducted the meat portion of the seminar. The following day, Wunderlich also led the meat portion of a training session for 20 sous chefs and food and beverage managers (including purchasing managers) from all seven SuperClubs at the Grand Lido Braco Resort, as well as a training session for 150 culinary students at the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel and Training Institute.   

A fundraising dinner was held at Round Hill Resort that showcased meat products donated by participating U.S. suppliers. Certified Angus Beef supplied bottom sirloin tri-tip, top sirloin baseball cut, and chuck roll short ribs, while Buckhead donated lamb “Denver” ribs. Companies also donated items for a silent auction benefitting the Culinary Federation of Jamaica. 

The Caribbean region is a growing market for U.S. red meat, especially lamb. Through the first ten months of 2008, lamb muscle cut exports to the region doubled in volume and tripled in value over 2007, and now account for about 35 percent of the volume and more than 60 percent of the worldwide value of U.S. lamb exports. Beef exports to Jamaica from January through November 2008 increased 22 percent in value over the same period in 2007, and increased by 14 percent in value throughout the region.

USMEF assisted in coordinating a multi-cooperator, foodservice promotion event last week at the Rose Hall Resort (Hilton) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Five U.S. suppliers participated in the event, including two USMEF member companies that attended: Buckhead Beef and Certified Angus Beef.  In addition, USMEF member Sysco International provided Snake River Farms Kobe products.

About 200 people attended Wednesday’s main event, including 65 culinary students from the region’s major culinary schools. The opening and welcome was presented by Ms. Jamie Rothschild, regional agricultural attaché for Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Elizabeth Wunderlich, USMEF’s Caribbean representative, conducted the meat portion of the seminar. The following day, Wunderlich also led the meat portion of a training session for 20 sous chefs and food and beverage managers (including purchasing managers) from all seven SuperClubs at the Grand Lido Braco Resort, as well as a training session for 150 culinary students at the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel and Training Institute.   

A fundraising dinner was held at Round Hill Resort that showcased meat products donated by participating U.S. suppliers. Certified Angus Beef supplied bottom sirloin tri-tip, top sirloin baseball cut, and chuck roll short ribs, while Buckhead donated lamb “Denver” ribs. Companies also donated items for a silent auction benefitting the Culinary Federation of Jamaica. 

The Caribbean region is a growing market for U.S. red meat, especially lamb. Through the first ten months of 2008, lamb muscle cut exports to the region doubled in volume and tripled in value over 2007, and now account for about 35 percent of the volume and more than 60 percent of the worldwide value of U.S. lamb exports. Beef exports to Jamaica from January through November 2008 increased 22 percent in value over the same period in 2007, and increased by 14 percent in value throughout the region.