Japanese Pork Buyers Visit South Dakota Plants

Japan

Pork Buyers Visit South Dakota Plants

A team of Japanese retail pork buyers visited the United States Oct. 14-21 to learn more about the U.S. pork industry, gaining additional trust in U.S. pork along the way. The trip was coordinated by the USMEF with funding from the South Dakota Soybean Board.

This was the first U.S. visit for trip team members, who represented the Japanese retail firms Daiei (209 outlets), Kasumi (128 outlets) and Marunaka (121 outlets). The pork facilities of Swift Marshalltown, Cargill Ottumwa, Tyson Storm Lake and John Morrell Sioux Falls were visited, with tours and presentations on fresh, frozen and processed U.S. pork products, as well as the quality control and safety control systems utilized.

“They were very impressed with U.S. strides in improving plants and systems,” according to Greg Hanes, USMEF Japan director. “They also were impressed by how hard the industry works to provide the best quality product for the Japanese market, with quality much better than they expected.”  Hanes said that in addition to fresh and frozen pork, team members were interested in some processed products the Japanese market does not have, including marinated loins and tenderloins.

During a dinner meeting, members of the South Dakota Soybean Board explained to team members the dynamics of current soybean and grain markets, while team members described the increasing demand for pork among Japanese consumers.

Japan

Pork Buyers Visit South Dakota Plants

A team of Japanese retail pork buyers visited the United States Oct. 14-21 to learn more about the U.S. pork industry, gaining additional trust in U.S. pork along the way. The trip was coordinated by the USMEF with funding from the South Dakota Soybean Board.

This was the first U.S. visit for trip team members, who represented the Japanese retail firms Daiei (209 outlets), Kasumi (128 outlets) and Marunaka (121 outlets). The pork facilities of Swift Marshalltown, Cargill Ottumwa, Tyson Storm Lake and John Morrell Sioux Falls were visited, with tours and presentations on fresh, frozen and processed U.S. pork products, as well as the quality control and safety control systems utilized.

“They were very impressed with U.S. strides in improving plants and systems,” according to Greg Hanes, USMEF Japan director. “They also were impressed by how hard the industry works to provide the best quality product for the Japanese market, with quality much better than they expected.”  Hanes said that in addition to fresh and frozen pork, team members were interested in some processed products the Japanese market does not have, including marinated loins and tenderloins.

During a dinner meeting, members of the South Dakota Soybean Board explained to team members the dynamics of current soybean and grain markets, while team members described the increasing demand for pork among Japanese consumers.