Japan Olympic Promotion, USMEF Hosts Pork Trade Committee

Olympic Athletes Enjoy U.S. Beef; USMEF Hosts NPB Trade Committee

U.S. Beef Helps Fuel Japan’s Olympic Athletes

U.S. beef was the centerpiece of a high-profile event sponsored in Japan recently by USMEF in conjunction with Marudai Foods – an official partner of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC).

Marudai, the fourth-largest meat processor and importer in Japan and the first company to import U.S. beef when the market reopened in December 2005, served U.S. beef at two barbeque receptions held at Japan’s National Athletes Training Center in Tokyo. The “energizing” receptions, hosted by the JOC on July 14 and July 21, honored Japanese athletes selected for the 2008 Olympic Games, which will be held Aug. 8 through Aug. 24 in Beijing, China.

The National Athletes Training Center is devoted only to athletes selected for major international meets such as the Olympics.  For the barbeque receptions held at the center, USMEF furnished decorations and promotional tools promoting the attributes of U.S. beef. Marudai Foods delivered 450 pounds of U.S. plate, tongue and chuck eye roll, serving it in beef bowl and Yakiniku dishes, as well as delicious steaks. A total of 350 athletes from the track and field, judo, volleyball, wrestling, swimming and badminton teams enjoyed the beef dishes after practice, along with coaches, JOC executives and Japanese media.

The receptions were part of USMEF’s “Beef de Genki” (Let’s Get Energized with U.S. Beef) campaign that is promoting the healthy image and nutritional attributes of U.S. beef in Japan. The events capitalized on global anticipation of the upcoming Olympic Games by showcasing U.S. beef as an important and enjoyable part of the Olympic athletes’ training diet.

“What better place to showcase the healthy and delicious benefits U.S beef brings to the table, than at the National Athletes Training Center?” said USMEF Japan Director Greg Hanes. “When consumers in Japan see their Olympic heroes enjoying U.S. beef, it delivers a strong message about making U.S. beef part of their own daily diet.”

Photo: http://www.usmef.org:8000/AboutUs/files/Japan%20Olympic%20Photo.pdf

 

USMEF Hosts National Pork Board’s Trade Committee

Members of the National Pork Board’s International Trade Committee visited USMEF’s Denver  headquarters this week. The committee is responsible for oversight of all pork checkoff-funded export marketing programs. The committee provides producer oversight in the following areas:

• Establish a world-class image and reputation for the U.S. pork industry in the minds of importers and consumers.
• Create acceptance among the trade and consumers in key international markets.
• Continue the positioning of U.S. Pork in the global marketplace as the safest, highest quality, most consistent and available, best-tasting pork the world over.

The committee discussed recent marketing efforts that have helped drive U.S. pork exports to new record levels – increasing exports by about 60 percent in volume and more than 50 percent in value over the same period last year. Today, 22 percent of all pork produced in the United States is exported, and U.S. pork accounts for one out of every 3.3 pounds of pork traded worldwide.

The committee hopes to build on this success as it plans international marketing activities for the upcoming year. Members of the committee noted that continued momentum in global markets is critical to the financial health of the U.S. pork industry, as producers deal with extremely high input costs and a sluggish domestic economy.

“While conditions are very tough right now for pork producers, it’s really gratifying to see them recognize the return they are seeing from global markets,” said John Hinners, USMEF’s assistant vice president for industry relations. “They know this is a solid investment in their future, and they are really committed to making the most of their international marketing efforts.”

The marketing budget approved this week by the International Trade Committee now moves to the full Pork Board for consideration in September.

Photo: http://www.usmef.org:8000/AboutUs/files/Pork%20Board%20Trade%20Committee%20Mtg.pdf

Olympic Athletes Enjoy U.S. Beef; USMEF Hosts NPB Trade Committee

U.S. Beef Helps Fuel Japan’s Olympic Athletes

U.S. beef was the centerpiece of a high-profile event sponsored in Japan recently by USMEF in conjunction with Marudai Foods – an official partner of the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC).

Marudai, the fourth-largest meat processor and importer in Japan and the first company to import U.S. beef when the market reopened in December 2005, served U.S. beef at two barbeque receptions held at Japan’s National Athletes Training Center in Tokyo. The “energizing” receptions, hosted by the JOC on July 14 and July 21, honored Japanese athletes selected for the 2008 Olympic Games, which will be held Aug. 8 through Aug. 24 in Beijing, China.

The National Athletes Training Center is devoted only to athletes selected for major international meets such as the Olympics.  For the barbeque receptions held at the center, USMEF furnished decorations and promotional tools promoting the attributes of U.S. beef. Marudai Foods delivered 450 pounds of U.S. plate, tongue and chuck eye roll, serving it in beef bowl and Yakiniku dishes, as well as delicious steaks. A total of 350 athletes from the track and field, judo, volleyball, wrestling, swimming and badminton teams enjoyed the beef dishes after practice, along with coaches, JOC executives and Japanese media.

The receptions were part of USMEF’s “Beef de Genki” (Let’s Get Energized with U.S. Beef) campaign that is promoting the healthy image and nutritional attributes of U.S. beef in Japan. The events capitalized on global anticipation of the upcoming Olympic Games by showcasing U.S. beef as an important and enjoyable part of the Olympic athletes’ training diet.

“What better place to showcase the healthy and delicious benefits U.S beef brings to the table, than at the National Athletes Training Center?” said USMEF Japan Director Greg Hanes. “When consumers in Japan see their Olympic heroes enjoying U.S. beef, it delivers a strong message about making U.S. beef part of their own daily diet.”

Photo: http://www.usmef.org:8000/AboutUs/files/Japan%20Olympic%20Photo.pdf

 

USMEF Hosts National Pork Board’s Trade Committee

Members of the National Pork Board’s International Trade Committee visited USMEF’s Denver  headquarters this week. The committee is responsible for oversight of all pork checkoff-funded export marketing programs. The committee provides producer oversight in the following areas:

• Establish a world-class image and reputation for the U.S. pork industry in the minds of importers and consumers.
• Create acceptance among the trade and consumers in key international markets.
• Continue the positioning of U.S. Pork in the global marketplace as the safest, highest quality, most consistent and available, best-tasting pork the world over.

The committee discussed recent marketing efforts that have helped drive U.S. pork exports to new record levels – increasing exports by about 60 percent in volume and more than 50 percent in value over the same period last year. Today, 22 percent of all pork produced in the United States is exported, and U.S. pork accounts for one out of every 3.3 pounds of pork traded worldwide.

The committee hopes to build on this success as it plans international marketing activities for the upcoming year. Members of the committee noted that continued momentum in global markets is critical to the financial health of the U.S. pork industry, as producers deal with extremely high input costs and a sluggish domestic economy.

“While conditions are very tough right now for pork producers, it’s really gratifying to see them recognize the return they are seeing from global markets,” said John Hinners, USMEF’s assistant vice president for industry relations. “They know this is a solid investment in their future, and they are really committed to making the most of their international marketing efforts.”

The marketing budget approved this week by the International Trade Committee now moves to the full Pork Board for consideration in September.

Photo: http://www.usmef.org:8000/AboutUs/files/Pork%20Board%20Trade%20Committee%20Mtg.pdf