For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) spo...
For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) sponsored the “American Pork Village” at the recent Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 with funding from the Nebraska Soybean Board. The three-day event at Japan’s Twin Ring Motegi Super Speedway attracted more than 100,000 people. The American Pork Villagewas prominently located in front of the stadium’s main entrance.
The village venue, which included a U.S. pork barbecue restaurant, cooking seminars, bingo and free sampling sessions, provided consumers a firsthand opportunity to taste delicious U.S. pork and discover its superior quality and nutritional value. More than 1,300 Japanese consumers enjoyed free U.S. pork samples, and thousands stopped by the U.S. barbecue restaurant.
“This was a particularly successful promotion for us due to the popularity, size and media coverage of the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300. It provided a great opportunity to continue to increase consumer awareness of the health and nutritional aspects of U.S. pork,” said USMEF President & CEO Phil Seng. “Japan, our largest export market, continues to show an increased appreciation of and demand for high-quality, rich-tasting pork. Japanese consumers prefer a more marbled pork product so the pork produced in the U.S. is highly valued there.”
This year’s promotion featured cooking seminars to demonstrate how to prepare “kailuapork,” a Dutch oven recipe, and “pork sauté with berry sauce,” a grill recipe. Each cooking demonstration included a sampling party, which is a proven way to help gain consumer acceptance of and preference for U.S. pork.
“The Indy 300 event was an ideal venue for sharing the message with Japanese consumers that U.S. pork is safe, nutritious and a good value. When I explained that my family eats the same U.S. pork they do, they are reassured that our product is safe and of high quality,” said Richard Swartz, a member of the Nebraska Soybean Board, who participated in the American Pork Village. “Events like these create demand for value-added pork exports and that’s good for both producers and soybean farmers.”
According to the United Soybean Board, nearly 97 percent of soybean meal produced in the U.S. is destined for the livestock sector. Soybean meal is particularly efficient in the production of U.S. pork and every pound of pork exported overseas represents the utilization of 1.5 pounds of soybeans.
“Our partnership with the Nebraska Soybean Board is a good example of how working together enables USMEF to participate in major events, such as the Indy Japan 300, where we can attract the attention of more consumers with the message that U.S. red meat products are nutritious, delicious and affordable,” said Seng.
In 2003, U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports totaled 757,905 metric tons (mt), up from 726,357 mt in 2002, according to USDA statistics, with Japan as the industry’s leading market. The value of U.S. pork exports rose five percent to $1.582 billion in 2003, breaking the record set in 2001.
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, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.
– USMEF –
Click here to view photos of USMEF’s participation at the 2004 Bridgestone Indy Japan 300:
