12/12/07 Branded products promotion

Branded meat products can get help to be promoted in world markets. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to tell you about the program. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is encouraging United States meat companies to get involved in their branded products program. World export markets are growing again and where standards of living are rising and protein consumption is increasing the Federation feels U.S. branded meat products need to be promoted. There is an expansion to buy brand names consumers can recognize in international markets. To help small companies capitalize on this trend the U.S. Meat Export Federation promotion program provides matching funds for these companies to cultivate foreign market growth. The funds can be used to attend trade fairs, defray costs of promotional materials, hire chefs, demonstration staff, translators, or help with costs of seminars. Last year, USMEF funded twenty-two companies enrolled in this promotion program. Five of these companies were new exporters. I like the idea of this program since I believe companies with a branded product will pay a little more attention to provide a high quality meat product that will meet strict export rules. Interested companies can contact Barbara Watson at the USMEF Denver office; area code 303-623-6328 or bwatson@usmef.org. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 11/21/07