Suggested Lead: With about 15 percent of U.S. pork production now exported, p...

Suggested Lead: With about 15 percent of U.S. pork production now exported, pork producers are recognizing the impact foreign markets have on their products. Wayne Peugh (pew) is a livestock and grain producer from Peoria, Ill., and president of the National Pork Board. He says the growth in the U.S. pork industry is testament to the power of exports.

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Earlier this month Peugh was in Mexico to attend the annual meeting of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. While there, he and other industry leaders were able to see for themselves how the largest U.S. pork export destination by volume markets pork and other meats. Peugh says maintaining a focus on export markets like Mexico and Japan is important.

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According to Peugh, through checkoff assessments pork producers are doing their part to build markets outside the United States.

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Peugh says in his experience, consumers in other countries still appreciate what the United States has to offer.

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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 –