The export market is the fastest growing market for U.S. meat products.  Ent...

The export market is the fastest growing market for U.S. meat products.  Entering this market, however, has always been a difficult choice for companies that are unsure of the potential costs and benefits of exporting their products.  To help mitigate some of the indecision, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is now accepting applications from U.S. companies interested in receiving matching funds to promote branded U.S. meat products in international markets.

Funds from this program can help your company attend trade fairs and exhibits, assist with paying travel to attend trade shows, offset costs of promotional materials such as point of sale materials used in connection with a promotion, and help pay for costs of retail promotions, including fees for chefs, costumes, signs, displays and fees for demonstration staff.  Branded products promotion funds can also be used to help cover the cost of seminars, including interpreters, seminar materials, set-up costs/room rental, slides and production and translation of educational materials such as company brochures and product sheets.  Promotions funded under this program must be conducted between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004. Applications will be accepted as long as funds are available although proposals received by June 15th will receive priority for funding.

For purposes of this application, eligible companies must have 500 or fewer employees, or be a producer cooperative or association.  Companies that receive funding from USMEF will be charged a 5 percent administrative fee for participation in the program.  USMEF also requires a $100 application fee to accompany the company's request for funding.  These funds will be applied toward the 5 percent fee.

Companies interested in the program should contact Barbara Watson at USMEF’s Denver office for guidelines and proposal format.  The address is:

U.S. Meat Export Federation
Independence Plaza
1050 17th St., Suite 2200
Denver, CO  80265
Telephone:  (303) 623-MEAT
Fax:  (303) 623-0297
e-mail:  bwatson@usmef.org

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 —