Moms And Kids Play Games And Eat Real American Hotdogs In Yokohama

Mothers and children stood in line for “real American hotdogs” at the 24th Yokohama port festival, June 1-2, and the children played Find The American Pork Men. Schools in Yokohama close for the port festival and as many as three-quarters of a million people attend. USMEF-Japan’s American Hotdog Stand had a prime location in the middle of the port festival’s welcome zone and tasty American hotdog samples were snapped up by throngs of visitors. To combine business with pleasure, USMEF collected 380 questionnaires to add to the steady stream of data the federation compiles to keep its promotions on track.

The hotdog promotion was aimed at mothers and children and most of the 1,600 who ate the samples fit that target. Find The American Pork Men was quite the hit with children in festive mood at the waterfront. They received prizes for finding three American pork men and telling them the three most important attributes of U.S. pork: It’s tasty, it’s healthy and it’s safe.

Festival goers also played other games designed to introduce U.S. processed pork products and deliver the message that American hotdogs are made with U.S. pork.

Although 2004 was a record year for U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan — 313,574 metric tons, $979 million — 2005 has started even more bullishly. In the first quarter of 2005, U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports to Japan are up 18 percent in volume (88,963 metric tons) and 22 percent in value ($276 million).

Much of what the U.S. sends to Japan is sold to Japanese processors who turn it into a wide range of products. Japan is also a large importer of processed pork products, and USMEF activities such as this are designed to increase exports of higher-margin U.S. processed pork products. Although Japan is the No. 1 market for U.S. pork exports, USMEF research has shown there is a low awareness of U.S. pork’s attributes among Japanese consumers and many promotions are designed to rectify this. USMEF’s role is to position U.S. pork as a nutritious, tasty and safe product that can be consumed every day as well as differentiating U.S. pork from other imported pork. USMEF also educates target companies in the trade sector of the quality attributes of U.S. pork, its potential for long-term profitability, and its availability in a wide range of cuts and value-added products.

Two USMEF members Johnsonville Sausage and Sara Lee Foods — provided the hotdogs and point-of-sale materials at the American Hotdog Stand.

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 –

Photos for use with this story:

Photo 1:      American hotdogs and games were a big hit with children at the Yokohama port festival

Photo 2:     Fun and games and American hotdog samples helped promote processed U.S. pork products

Photo 3:     Lines formed at the USMEF American Hotdog Stand