As kids compete for a soccer championship in Mexico City on May 7, the U.S. ...
As kids compete for a soccer championship in Mexico City on May 7, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) will be cheering alongside and showing kids how lean cuts of U.S. pork and beef can help supply strength and energy to help them play sports like soccer.
During the soccer tournament, a USMEF nutritionist will show parents how lean cuts of U.S. pork and beef are a good part of a well-balanced diet for body and brain development, as well as to help develop strength children need to participate in sports.
The nutritionist will explain, for example, lean cuts of U.S. pork have 31 percent less fat than 20 years ago, and many cuts of U.S. pork are as lean as skinless chicken, while lean cuts of U.S. beef provide eight times more vitamin B12, six times more zinc and three times more iron than chicken.
“USMEF is excited to support the kids competing in the soccer tournament and also is looking forward to providing information on the nutritional attributes of high quality U.S. pork and beef to parents and children attending the matches,” said USMEF Mexico Director Gilberto Lozano. "Our goal is to make it easy for parents to incorporate U.S. meat into everyday meals."
Children not competing in the soccer tournament can play games to learn what a well-balanced diet looks like. USMEF also will provide parents with recipe cards and information on nutrition and where to purchase U.S. pork and beef.
Now in its second year, the Jetix Kids Cup is firmly established as one of the biggest events of its kind in the world. The tournament celebrates the values of sportsmanship, fair play, cultural exchange and the fun of athleticism.
Winners from tournaments in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey will compete in the Mexico City tournament. Girls and boys team winners advance to a competition in June against teams from Brazil and Argentina. Winners of this round will represent Latin America at the Jetix Kids Cup international competition in July, during the professional soccer FIFA World Cup.
Gustavo Castano, USMEF Mexico retail and marketing manager, helped produce nutrition spots featuring a dietician talking about the winning combination of soccer and a well-balanced diet that includes U.S. meat. These commercials air on TV programs promoting the Jetix Kids Cup.
Castano said USMEF also will encourage consumsers to purchase U.S. pork and beef at participating supermarket stores in May to get a savings coupon for the DVD release of the soccer movie, “Gol,” and in June to qualify for tickets to a special premiere presentation of “Gol 2.”
Mexico is the leading destination for U.S. pork and beef this year. U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports to Mexico through February were 66,959 metric tons (mt) valued at $9.6 million while U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to Mexico were 51,308 mt valued at $17.5 million.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, lamb, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.
– USMEF –